From beloved children's author-illustrator Alex T. Smith, the bestselling creator of the Claude series, How Winston Delivered Christmas, How Winston Came Home for Christmas and The Grumpus, comes a rip-roaring fast-paced illustrated adventure through space, perfect for newly confident readers! Astrid Atomic, a 6-year-old human person, goes to bed every night like every other 6-year-old human person. But unlike many other 6-year-olds she doesn’t stay there. The minute the lights are off, and the coast is clear the Space Cadet siren goes off, her uniform goes on, and 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - WHOOSH! - she blasts off on board the spaceship Stardust! Along with her best pals Beryl, Professor Quackers and Zoink, Astrid is given her mission from The Chief - to clean up the Milky Way! But when a nearby alien is in trouble and with giant snaliens around, things aren't likely to go to plan! Don't miss Astrid and the gang's next adventure in book two: Astrid and the Space Cadets: Race from Planet Peril!

Alex T. Smith has drawn and written stories since he could hold a pencil. After considering several career options (space traveller, cake maker, professional rabbit), Alex decided to train to do the job he’d wanted to do since he was five – an illustrator specializing in the world of children’s publishing.Alex graduated with a first-class degree in Illustration in 2006 and also won second place in the Macmillan Prize for Illustration in his final year. Since then Alex has gone on to work for a wide variety of clients, not just in the publishing industry, as well as writing and illustrating his own picture books, many of which have won prizes and have been read on TV during the Bedtime Hour on the CBeebies channel. Alex is also the creator of the bestselling Claude series for early readers, which appear in their own TV series on Disney Junior. His much-loved How Winston Delivered Christmas, How Winston Came Home from Christmas, The Grumpus and the witty retelling of The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Grandma is Overly Generous are all set to become future Christmas classics.When not working, Alex enjoys doodling in his sketchbook, reading, people-watching and eavesdropping. He is also a big fan of cake and a nice cup of tea. He lives with and under the constant ‘supervision’ of his canine companions in Warwickshire.