The Queen's Lift-Off by Steve Antony - Ages 3-6 - Paperback

Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781444934229
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Age Range: 3-6 years

Overview:
The Queen's Lift-Off is the fourth hilarious picture book in Steve Antony's much-loved Queen Collection, following the Queen and her loyal astronauts on a lightning tour through space. Travelling at the speed of light, she zips from the Moon to Mars via Mercury, leaving no planet unexplored, all while wondering if she'll be back in time for tea. Bright, bold illustrations and playful, rhythmic text make this a joyful read-aloud for young children who love silly royal escapades and outer-space fun.

About the Book:
From the award-winning creator of The Queen's Hat, The Queen's Handbag and The Queen's Present comes a fourth instalment that swaps London streets for the stars. The Queen has already toured the UK and the world, twice over, and now sets her sights on the cosmos, blasting off with her trusty astronaut entourage in tow. Steve Antony's signature style shines throughout: clean, graphic illustrations rendered in a distinctive limited palette, paired with spare, witty text that rewards both quick page-turns and slower shared reading. The story cleverly ties into real-world space exploration, making it a fun tie-in for the anniversary of the first Moon landing, while never losing its comic tone. Each spread is packed with small visual jokes, from wobbling astronauts to a Queen who never quite loses her composure even in zero gravity. The repetitive, rhythmic sentence structure supports emerging readers building confidence with early independent reading, while the larger vocabulary and space vocabulary (Moon, Mars, Mercury) offer gentle stretch and learning opportunities. The humour stays warm rather than mocking, celebrating curiosity and adventure, making this an ideal bedtime or classroom read for children who enjoy stories about space, royalty, or simply a good giggle.

Key Benefits:

• Fourth book in Steve Antony's bestselling Queen Collection series.
• Fun space-adventure theme, perfect for young astronomy fans.
• Bold, distinctive illustrations from an award-winning author-illustrator.
• Playful, rhythmic text ideal for early independent readers aged 3-6.
• Great for bedtime stories, classroom read-alouds, and gifting.

About the Author:
Steve Antony is a British author-illustrator who has written and illustrated numerous picture books, including the multi-award-winning Mr Panda series and the Queen Collection. His debut, The Queen's Hat, won the Evening Standard's Oscar's Book Prize and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, with several of his titles nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Known for his bold, graphic illustration style and gentle humour, Antony draws on his own life and interests to create stories that celebrate curiosity, kindness and imagination for young readers.

Why You'll Love This Book:
A hilarious, beautifully illustrated space caper starring one of picture books' most beloved royal characters. Funny, warm and perfectly paced for little ones, it's a brilliant addition to any bookshelf and a lovely gift for young space enthusiasts.

Please Note: Cover shown is the UK edition; ISBN as listed is the UK edition ISBN.