SUZIE SAVES THE UNIVERSE: Blast into 2022 with this funny, illustrated, STEM-themed adventure series, perfect for kids aged 6-9: Book 1 (Space Blasters)

This audio book is perfect to keep young listeners quiet and entertained. Aimed at children 6 to 9, but I can see older children really liking this too. A wonderfully narrated space set story full of humour and colourful imagination. I liked the fact that the lead character is a girl. And for parents wanting more out of their child’s audio book consumption, there are STEM snippets and the story deals with jealousy as well. Stand alone, but I think more adventures for Susie in the future. Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I have noticed when glancing at my children's books that the style is a lot more informal and inviting than the books I read. 'Suzie Saves the Universe' by Katie Tsang is a good example as it is told from the intelligent and chatty Suzie, a curious child who ends ups in space. It is suitable for the age range 6-9 as the story as some mild peril and the characters are all fun and bright.As a voice Suzie spoke to my child, but she found the story a little dry in places. The images helped. Although black and white they broke up the words and gave a visual hint into what the characters are doing. This is a light story that will be absorbed by a keen reader.

In the words of our 7yr old, who has been reading this book at bedtime for the last week or so…“The main character is Suzie Wen and she likes inventing stuff.Her favourite thing in the world is Dumplings! She tried to make an automatic dumpling maker, but it went wrong.Then she tried to make a 3D Headset and that went badly wrong. Everything went black.When she woke up she saw an Alien named Five Eyed Frank, who was in Space Blasters crew.Then they do some tests to confirm she is human. She passes, and explained how she got there.Apparently Earth is in a whole different universe, and she some how beamed herself there!They show her round the spaceship ’Tubs’ and then they go outside because the ship is heading toward a planet that stinks of cheeseThe ship crash lands and they fall down a holeThe other crew mates are Captain Jane and Spaceman JackJack comes down the hole on a rope to Suzie with a torch. In the light they discover blue bunnies! Jack scans them with his space suit and they are apparently called BabbidsSpaceman Jack goes back up, but Suzie asks the babbids to bounce her back up Planet CheddarThe planet is out of orbit, with the moon missing!They visit planet Topsy Turvy to try and find out more.. which has Floptopus creatures!”… carry on to find out moreNice pictures.

This is a STEM themed adventure book, yes I had to look it up as well, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths, and basically means reading these types of books will give the child an introduction into these subjects.My 5 year old granddaughter is just about ready to have here reading vocabulary and interests broadened, and this might just be the type of book to do it.The book is a large soft back book with 224 pages of well spaced out text and black and white pictures and diagrams, every easy to read alone or with help to follow along.The book follows the adventures of Suzie Wen, who loves inventing gadgets and things, but not everything turns out the way she expects it to happen. Suzie invents the Super 3DTV and she ends up getting transported into her favourite TV show, Space Blasters! While on a space ship, moons start disappearing, it’s up to Suzie to save the universe with her inventing skills, but will she ever get home?An engaging book, that may or may not spark something within a child to start inventing things themselves, I know my granddaughter is enjoying it and she would recommend.This is book one of two.

Science fiction for younger readers. Ideal age would be six to nine. It might be a tiny bit juvenile for anyone older.It is the start of a series. But the story is complete and self contained, just leaving the door open for more adventures at the end.It runs two hundred and four pages. It has fifteen chapters. There are illustrations. Which can be full page of smaller.This is the story, narrated in the first person, of Suzie Wen. A smart girl who likes making things. Who is feeling a bit adrift as a friend has moved away and her siblings are getting into teenage stuff.First person narration does mean she rambles a little in the first chapter, which is all about dumplings. But then it gets moving after that. When her attempt at making 3D tv leaves her literally in the adventures of Space Blasters. Her favourite tv show. Starring dashing hero Spaceman Jack. Practical pilot Captain Jane. And alien tech guy five eyed Frank.Attempts to get her home are put on hold when they discover a threat to the universe.This is nice easy reading. Large print always helps for that. And the illustrations do help get you into things. It does allow Suzie to grow and develop as a character nicely along the way. Her desire to think her way through problems is appealing. And thus the resulting life lessons feel organic not forced. It does have a pretty decent main plot also, which rather creeps up on you without you noticing, and It does go not quite where you might expect.The supporting cast are decent. Jane is an appealingly reliable character. Frank learns life lessons in a good way also. And Jack is like a slightly toned down version of Zapp Brannigan from Futurama. So he's a bit vain but likeable as a person with it.Ultimately quite an affable read, so for kids who like to think and have a bit of imagination, this should be ideal. There is another book in the series coming shortly. See the back of this for more on that.