Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth

Shortlisted for the 2017 Carnegie Medal, Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth by the award-winning UK Children's Laureate 2024-2026 Frank Cottrell-Boyce is an funny out-of-this-world adventure. Perfect for children aged 8+ and illustrated throughout by Steven Lenton.

'Full of heart and emotion that might just bring a tear to your eye' - Tom Fletcher, author of The Creakers

Can a dog from outer space save the world?

When Prez meets Sputnik - a small, loud alien - he's shocked to hear that the world is about to be destroyed. Unless Prez can show Sputnik ten things worth seeing or doing on Earth . . .

But Prez's list of amazing things is not quite the same as Sputnik's - will it be enough to save the planet?

'A wonderful and exciting story about friendship and appreciating what you have' - Independent

Author: Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Publisher: MacMillan Children's Books
Published: 08/11/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 7.70h x 5.10w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781035047185
Audience: Ages 9-12

About the Author

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, UK Children's Laureate 2024-2026, is a multi award-winning children's book author and screenwriter. Millions, his debut children's novel, won the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal.

His other books include Cosmic, Framed, The Astounding Broccoli Boy, Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth, Runaway Robot, Noah's Gold and The Wonder Brothers. He has enjoyed a long-standing collaboration with award-winning illustrator Steven Lenton. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Fiction Award, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award.

Frank is also a highly successful screenwriter. He has written for the hit TV series Dr Who and his script for Michael Morpurgo's Kensuke's Kingdom won a British Animation Award. Along with Danny Boyle, he devised the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics. Frank has been the judge for the 500 Words competition and the BBC's One Show As You Write It competition.

Frank is a lifelong champion of children's books. In 2023 he launched a successful podcast with Nadia Shireen, The Island of Brilliant!, celebrating writing and illustration for children of all ages.

He lives in Merseyside with his family.

Steven Lenton is a multi-award-winning illustrator, originally from Cheshire, now working from his studios in Brighton and London with his dog, Big Eared Bob. He has illustrated many children's books including Head Kid and The Taylor Turbochaser by David Baddiel, The Hundred And One Dalmatians adapted by Peter Bently, the Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam series by Tracey Corderoy and the Sainsbury's Prize-winning The Nothing To See Here Hotel series written by Steven Butler. He has illustrated two World Book Day titles and regularly appears at literary festivals and live events across the UK. Steven has his own Draw-along YouTube channel, showing how to draw a range of his characters. He has also written his own picture book Princess Daisy and the Dragon and the Nincompoop Knights' and his young fiction series Genie and Teeny.