Laika is Owen Davey's third picture book. in it he re-tells the story of the first animal to orbit the earth. Laika was a Russian dog, launched into space in the Sputnik 2 rocket in 1957. It was a huge event at the time, a story I remember hearing in the news as a young girl. Templar publishers recognise interesting illustration and design, and the design and illustration in Laika the Astronaut is stunning, with echoes of Russian poster art. They story is simply and engagingly told. However, I would have liked it to end on the double page spread: 'In the years that followed, people wrote books about her, made stamps with her face on and even put up a statue of her.' Laika living ion in memories would have made a much more powerful ending than Davey's fantasy adventure of Laika being found and living a life of happiness with a dream family. Nevertheless, a stunningly illustrated picture book for young readers 6 - 9 -- Lynda Graham * The School Librarian Journal *
