Lately, I have been binge watching a fascinating alternate history sci-fi TV series on the space race. If you get the chance, check out For All Mankind . The first season takes a bit long in establishing the characters and premise, but it’s worth hanging in. The show reached a point (no spoilers) that reminded me of the sweet morality tale disguised as an illustrated children’s book by Umberto Eco with illustrations from Eugenio Carni titled The Three Astronauts or I tre cosmonauti. 

The charming little book  focuses on three astronauts – an American, a Russian, and a Chinese – who each individually depart Earth at the same time on a mission to Mars. Arriving at their destination simultaneously, at first they consider each other to be adversaries, but the desolate conditions of Mars helps them to recognize that their differences are inconsequential when compared to what they share in common. This is reinforced when they meet a six-armed Martian, and not being able to communicate they discover that their rivalry has moved from each other to the actual alien. Happily they soon discover that the Martian has emotions just like their own.

The book’s illustrations are by award-winning artist Eugenio Carmi, and consist of colorful collages and watercolors. Surreal and symbolic, the artwork excellently exemplifies Eco’s story of understanding and compassion. The astronauts are depicted by swatches of colored paper rather than as people; the American as a multicolored box of Chiclets, the Russian a red clipping from Pravda, and the Chinese as a yellow ideogram.

The 1966 first editions are quite expensive, but the 1989 U.S. edition is still relatively affordable and makes a great gift for the budding astronaut in your family.