I Need Space

posted on October 22, 2026 by Eve Panzer

Publication Date: Oct. 27, 2026

The author makes the story and its message fun and easy for children to identify with by using space terminology and a rocket ship named Rocco as the main character. Just like most kids, Rocco has a “blast” on the space playground. But just like kids, Rocco gets frustrated with those who hog the equipment, cut in line, and don’t play by the rules. Then come the meteors who roughhouse.

Rocco the rocket ship becomes overwhelmed and realizes he needs space! He takes himself to the quieter outer edges of space where he could be:” Calm, still, quiet: all the things he needed to cool his jets and refill his tank.”

The illustrations are playful, bright, and colorful, adding important details that give the story context and humor.  Through pictures, the reader sees that the playground is in outer space. The slides are the rings around Jupiter. The swings are teethers on the space station. And the merry-go-round uses gravitational pull around a planet.

Many of the space items in the story are explained in the endnotes, so kids get a science lesson. The endnotes also include ways for kids to calm themselves down, such as counting to ten, squeezing a stress ball, taking slow breaths, or talking to an adult.

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Thank you to Alex Kelleher-Nagorski and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for the review copy.

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