Inspiring Young Readers

posted on 24 Sep 2026

The Search for our Cosmic Neighbours by Chloe Savage

Here at The Letterpress Project we’re always delighted to be able to bring you news of a new publication from author/illustrator, Chloe Savage. In this case it’s not strictly a brand-new title – it was released in hardback in 2025 – but it is new to paperback and that makes it an exciting chance for a wider audience to experience the warm and witty adventures of her intrepid (and sometimes hapless) explorers. We’ve already had The Search for Carmella and The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish but on this occasion we’re off into outer space looking for our alien neighbours.

On a ten year mission “Commander Julia’s team comes from every corner of the world; they are a true crew of Earth”. But ten years is an awfully long time in a cramped spaceship with the same people and made especially difficult because time after time, planet after planet, they are simply finding barren lands. Now they are very literally get up each other’s noses:

“As Star Drifter’s commander, Julia is responsible for the welfare of her entire crew, especially their dog, Khan. And, of course, she cares for them…but she is fed up of the same loud-snoring, wet-chewing, throat -clearing, joint-popping, nail-clipping, off-key singing, crumb-dropping, howling, mouth-breathing, muttering and bathroom-hogging.”

See what I mean? And that goes for the rest of the crew too – they’ve all had enough and really want the Commander to make the decision to turn back. She’s sorely tempted but, she thinks, just one last try.

Well, I bet I don’t need to tell you what happens on this last roll of the dice, do I? But I’m not going to spoil it for you by giving away just how the rest of the mission goes because you’ll love finding that out for yourselves. Suffice it to say that Earth has some new friends by the end………

I love the large foolscap format of this paperback and the large pages give full scope to Savage’s delightful artwork that is crammed with detail to spend time over discovering. The text doesn’t cramp the pages and there’s a nice pace to the story that would make it excellent to read out loud – so ideal for young classroom reading time.

Available from Walker Books, you will be able to get a copy from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

Terry Potter

September 2026