This is a great book to encourage children, especially girls to follow their dreams. Celestina dreams of being an astronaut but is encouraged to be a ballerina instead. One day a very wise teacher encourages the students to follow their passion and be what they really want to be. This story will encourage children to follow their dreams and might encourage some adults as well. The illustrations are eye-catching and the story, one that needs to be heard. Read it to every child you know. ( )

Cute story of a little girl with big ambitions who doesn't give up. Great representation for Black girls drawn to STEM fields! The rhymes are a bit clunky, but my daughter loves it anyway. ( )

Celestina has big dreams of becoming an astronaut, but not everyone in her life believes she can achieve that. They say it's too hard or too much work and that she should stick to becoming a ballerina. Overall, the book accomplishes its mission in sharing the message that you can become anything you want, including being more than one thing. I liked that readers get to see Celestina grow up and achieve her goals through hard work. The rhyming text worked for most of the book and kept the story flowing, although there were places where it didn't quite keep the rhythm. The illustrations are engaging. I'm acknowledging my bias here as a school librarian, but I did not like that Celestina's nemesis, the first teacher who laughs at her, is drawn as the worn-out stereotypical librarian (grey hair in a bun, glasses, pearl earrings). However, the other illustrations are inclusive and modern, including a student in a motorized wheelchair and a boy in ballet class. I appreciate that Donald Jacobsen's website includes book extras for teachers and librarians can sign up for. ( )

While this story is a sweet concept, it was challenging to read aloud as the rhyme scheme was pretty clunky. Rhythmically, it seemed almost as if it had only been read aloud in the author’s voice and never tried with anyone else’s. I wasn’t the hugest fan of the messaging, either. I wish Celestina’s “good teacher” hadn’t have told her she had to give up ballet to be an astronaut. It’s okay to like dance and science! Overall, I see the intent but I think the concept has been done already (and far more successfully) by others. ( )

Celestina has dreams of becoming an astronaut and to walk on the moon. Her family, on the other hand, think she has set the bar too high and tries to convince her to be more grounded. So Celestina takes ballet. Her teacher encourages her to follow her dreams of going to space.

I find it unique that Celestina’s family and friends were the ones that discouraged Celestina to do what she dreams. I also enjoyed that the reader gets to see Celestina grown up by the end.

The art is cute and I enjoyed the story. I am curious to see other books in Big Ideas For Little Dreamers series.

I loved the many representations of multicultural characters in the book and the fact that the main character is a girl is wonderful as well. Celestina Astronaut Ballerina is an inspiring book for kids who dream big and learn to work hard to get where they want to be. ( )