Book Review of Charlie’s Space Adventures: Mission to the Moon
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The Children’s Book Review
Charlie’s Space Adventures: Mission to the Moon
Written by Caeley Looney
Illustrated by Nadia Ronquillo
Ages: 4-6 | 30 Pages
Publisher: Caeley Looney (2026) | ISBN: 979-8994747902
What to Expect: Friendship, curiosity, science, space, neurodiversity.
Written by a neurodivergent aerospace engineer and inspired by her real-life service dog, this uplifting picture book models the curiosity, investigative skill, and courage needed to make STEM discoveries.
Charlie the dog is extremely curious about the world around him—and his owner, the scientist Cate, is just as curious and full of questions! When Charlie asks Cate why they can only ever see one side of the moon, Cate doesn’t just explain – she takes Charlie on a mission to find out! As they approach the moon in their spaceship, however, Charlie becomes a little bit worried—half of the moon seems to be dark. Did they break it? Is it missing? Luckily, Charlie doesn’t need to be worried, because Cate has answers—and as they fly around the moon from light to dark, Charlie learns about reflected light and shadows. Mystery solved!
Charlie and Cate don’t just ask questions about the world around them—they are resilient and determined enough to pursue answers, even when doing so gets a little bit scary! In addition to modeling STEM problem-solving and sharing interesting facts about the moon and space, the story also illustrates the importance of supporting one another and sharing ideas. The cartoon illustrations emphasize this closeness, depicting Charlie at Cate’s side no matter what is happening.
For any reader who has ever wondered if there is a place in STEM for them, Charlie’s Space Adventures: Mission to the Moon is the perfect picture book to welcome them in.
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About the Author
Caeley Looney is a rocket scientist and the Founder and CEO of Reinvented Inc., a global nonprofit transforming access to STEM education for the next generation. Since launching in 2019, Reinvented has reached over 500,000 students worldwide with innovative, hands-on learning experiences and digital resources designed to inspire and empower students, especially young girls, to see themselves in STEM. With a background in aerospace engineering, Caeley earned her B.S. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and her M.S. in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She’s spent nearly a decade in the aerospace industry, contributing to cutting-edge missions ranging from small satellites to commercial lunar landers, and most recently served as a Senior GNC Engineer working on AI-driven spacecraft. Today, Caeley continues to lead Reinvented while working in the space industry, using her first-hand experiences as an engineer as a guide to scaling impactful programs that bridge the gap between curiosity and career for students everywhere. Her work has earned national recognition, including being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Education) list, highlighting her as a leading voice shaping the future of STEM education.
For more information, visit www.caeleylooney.com/book.
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