Reviews: Erwtjes in de ruimte
Space, adventure, and fruits and vegetables all in one story? That sounds like a mission for Pipa Pea! In Erwtjes in de ruimte, you'll embark on a cosmic adventure full of surprises.
But what makes this book so enjoyable to read (aloud)? We gathered experiences from readers, teachers, and parents, and even ventured into space ourselves. Want to read along?
Adventure among stars and planets
In Erwtjes in de ruimte, Pipa really doesn't want to sleep. Far too boring. She'd rather venture into space like a true explorer. So she wakes up her friends, and together they build a real pod rocket.
What follows is an imaginative journey past planets, strange worlds, and unexpected encounters. They land on a fiery red planet that looks suspiciously like Mars, where the ground bubbles like tomato soup and a corn cob suddenly threatens to turn into popcorn.
Along the way, they discover new places, help each other when needed, and even land on a planet where there's one big party. Until an unexpected bang suddenly gives their adventure a different turn…
Fantasy, humour, and rich vocabulary
What immediately stands out when this book is read aloud? A lot happens! There’s laughter, pointing, but questions are asked as well. Pipa’s world is full of surprises.
“This is a fantastic book with a beautiful story and rich vocabulary. The illustrations pop, are full of expression, and support the story. Both reality and fantasy are covered. As a teacher, I think it's a very enjoyable book to read interactively. There were fun, surprising reactions from the children. It made the children curious about the immense universe.”
Illustrations that keep surprising
“The illustrations are truly beautiful! The little peas are so cute and lively. A funny story is told through bright, clear illustrations with a real space atmosphere. When Pipa looks out the window, the Earth is as big as a pea and the moon as big as a melon. Mars consists of bubbling tomato soup and corn turns into popcorn. So many fun ideas, so much joy!”
Questions, imagination, and critical thinking
What others find extra fun about this book is what happens during and after reading it. Children start thinking along, fantasizing, and adding their own ideas.
In the classroom, you hear reactions like: “I want to be an astronaut too,” and “I'd like to visit an ice cream planet!” As Wij_lezen_wel describes it: “There were fun, surprising reactions from the children. It made them curious about the immense universe.”
The story also continues at home. Kiekeboekjes writes:
An ideal bedtime story too, because eventually Pipa wakes up from her space dream in her own bed. So, of course, the question follows: "What adventure will you experience tonight?"
So the story doesn't end with the book. It continues in conversations, play, and new adventures that children invent themselves.
Healthy eating in a playful way
Among all the adventures, there's something extra hidden. Without being explicit, fruits and vegetables appear playfully in the story.
Juf_ivette also notes this:
“By connecting fruits and vegetables with relatable stories close to a child's world, they become less 'unknown' or 'scary'. This recognition helps create more openness to trying new foods at the dinner table.”
This way, fruits and vegetables don't become 'obligations', but simply a natural part of the story.
5 fruity stars
What strikes us in all these wonderful reviews? How often children return to the story. How they keep looking, asking questions, and putting their own spin on it.
A book that doesn't end on the last page, but just keeps going. In play, in conversations... and in small space journeys that simply start at home!
Discover Erwtjes in de ruimte here.
