Starman: The Cosmic Voyage of David Bowie by Matthew Cordell Published by Neal Porter Books on September 1, 2026
ISBN: 0823451550
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
Cordell’s talent as a Caldecott Medalist is evident in this creative biography about an iconic pop star. Rather than stating facts about Bowie’s life, Bowie is depicted as a traveller journeying through space to discover who he is meant to be. Each place he ‘lands’ is a new phase in his musical career with a new alter ego, beginning with his blastoff as Major Tom and ending with him returning to the stars after he passed away. The story narrative mixes traditional prose with poetic line breaks and indentations at certain points. Though it is a non-fiction biography, the creative narrative structure reads like a fantasy or science fiction adventure.
As someone who is vaguely familiar with Bowie’s discography, I found this to be a good introduction to his artistry, both for adults as well as children. Fans of Bowie will love the frequent song references. Some figurative language may go over some younger readers’ heads, which is why this is ideal for an upper elementary school or lower middle school age group.
As stated on the verso page, the art is “created in the same spirit that Bowie created—in lots of different ways” using various mediums to achieve different visual effects and evoke different moods. At times the illustrations are sketchy and cartoonish, but vibrantly colored. In other sections, the pictures are flat, monochromatic, and dismal. All of the art flows well with the text and will keep readers engaged.
The ending of the story asks the reader a question: “who are you?” It is not just for a name, but they are as a person. What will they aspire to? Will they reach for the stars as David Bowie did? Cordell leaves the reader with a Beginner Bowie Playlist to inspire the next generation of innovators and artists. There are many unique elements to this biography, making it a wonderful selection for a children’s/youth library collection!
Reviewed by Jada Gastia, Williams Elementary School, RSU #18