TATE TUBER, SPACE SPUD

A thrill-seeking potato aspires to adventures in space.

Tate seizes his opportunity to be an astronaut when the Food Service–bound box he’s in gets dropped off next to the one headed for Space Training at the Space League. Tate is an enthusiastic russet, with a big mouth, expressive eyes, and stick-figure arms and legs. Clear cartoon illustrations and generously sized frames emphasize the story’s lighthearted feel. Tate performs so well in the potato maze, the saltwater tank, and as a potato battery that he gets “picked for a very big job” in space. Unfortunately, it turns out that Tate’s not really an astronaut but part of a test “to see if potatoes can grow in space.” Disappointed by this agricultural assignment, he deploys his questionable astronaut skills before jumping into a “space pod” full of dirt. Weeks later, five Tates emerge—all would-be astronauts. The diverse human crew is irritated as the Tates get wildly out of hand. Nevertheless, when the space lab loses power, the potatoes heroically come to the rescue and are rewarded with their own spaceship. A final page with science facts and suggestions for activities is nicely pitched to the audience.

Energetic and zany, with an a-peel-ing hero.