Book Buzz: Out There

written and illustrated by Tom Sullivan

Ages 4-7, Balzer & Bray, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers

Autumn is here! With it come cool nights and air that is crisp and clear. You can look up into the night sky and see more stars than you can count. There’s a mystery to the season that haunts the night and makes us all wonder as we look up into heavens. Are we alone? Are there living beings on other planets?

Tom Sullivan’s Out There is all about the wonder and mystery of extraterrestrial life. The story begins with the night sky. Two children are staring through a telescope and wondering: is there life out there in the universe? If so, what do those creatures look like? Are they similar to us? Do they have families like we do? Does everyone act the same on other planets as we do here on Earth?

Hidden within the theme of the story are questions we ask ourselves about life here on Earth. How do people treat one another if they are different? Are there animal species that we’re not familiar with? Or even species that haven’t been discovered?

With all these questions about the universe (and Earth), one has to wonder if the questions themselves are universal! Curiosity permeates the cosmos!

Sullivan’s illustrations are colorful and intriguing. The numerous questions are whimsically illustrated with colored pencils, paint and Photoshop. A sharp eye will find many hidden clues to the mysteries of the story.

The space and Earth topics will prompt many questions from your reader, too! Out There is an opportunity for an adult to introduce all kinds of ideas to discuss with a young curious mind.

Chuck Galey writes and illustrates picture books. Visit his website to see what he’s up to at www.chuckgaley.com.