A Wrong Turn in Space: The Boy and his Parrot Return

A kid and his parrot blast off in search of Mars and lose their way exploring the wonders of the galaxy in this picture book from Corcoran.

In this sequel to Treasure Isle: A Swashbuckling Tale of a Boy and his Parrot (2021), we meet the boy (who is never referred to by name), a red-headed primary school child with a sunny outlook and a propensity for daydreaming (“The boy had a parrot, a book about stars, / A small rocket ship, and directions to Mars”). One day, having indulged in some stargazing with his affable, green-colored pet parrot, he decides they should visit Mars together. They take off in a backyard rocket ship and have fun drawing pictures and playing chess in zero gravity; soon, however, they find themselves lost. Having asked directions from some passing Martians, they make it to the Red Planet and enjoy a picnic with their new friends before heading home again; ultimately it’s revealed that they are spinning yarns from within a cardboard-box play rocket. Corcoran relates the boys’ escapades in rhyming anapestic tetrameter, affording the story a jaunty, surging rhythm. Lundeen’s watery crayon-and-paint illustrations capture both the wondrous unknown of outer space and the pastel daydreaming of a fantasist in full flight. The boy and his parrot (in particular) brim with personality. The neighboring children represent a range of ethnicities, while the brief addendum of space facts (e.g., “It rains diamonds on Jupiter”) helps elucidate the specific landing places along the boy’s journey.

A bright, bouncy, beautifully illustrated space-travel fantasy for kids.