Author Chronicled Maine Astronaut Jessica Meir

Illustrator Jamie Hogan has created a children's book following the career of Caribou native Jessica Meir.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Space

Flat opaque gouache-painted illustration of drafting pencils, a closed sketchbook, and watercolor paints arranged on a rustic wooden desk. — Author and illustrator Jamie Hogan has released a new children's book detailing the career and life of Maine-native astronaut Jessica Meir. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Author and illustrator Jamie Hogan has written The Cosmic Journey of Jessica Meir, a new children's book documenting the life of the Maine astronaut. The project explores Meir's path from her childhood in Caribou to her scientific research in Antarctica.

Why it matters

Hogan chose Meir as a subject because her scientific background and path to space exploration provided a visually compelling narrative for young readers. The book offers a unique look at the personal history behind a modern space explorer.

Jamie Hogan developed the narrative using a 11-by-14 ring-bound sketchbook to organize research and storyboards. The book documents Meir's career transition from Antarctic penguin research to space exploration.

The players

Jamie Hogan

Jamie Hogan is an author and illustrator based on Peaks Island, Maine, who previously published the book Sky Watcher.

Jessica Meir

Jessica Meir is an astronaut who grew up in Caribou, Maine, and is known for conducting scientific research on penguins in Antarctica.

The details

Hogan utilizes a sketchbook to collect research and newspaper clippings, following a storyboard process to visualize the narrative. Her research included time at a library in Caribou, Maine, where she investigated the roots of the astronaut's life.

Hogan began reading children's books after having a child in 1996.
NASA invited Hogan to watch the SpaceX Crew-12 launch earlier in 2026.
The book The Cosmic Journey of Jessica Meir is scheduled for release in fall 2026.

The Big Picture

This project reflects a broader trend of biographical children's literature highlighting space explorers connected to the NASA SpaceX Crew-12 mission. The book aligns with current efforts to bridge scientific discovery and creative storytelling for younger audiences.

The release of this book will provide Maine families with a localized resource to introduce children to aerospace science and career paths in STEM. Readers can anticipate the book's arrival in stores by fall 2026.

The takeaway

Engaging with personal biographies can help children identify relatable paths to complex scientific fields like aerospace engineering. Parents and educators can use such narratives to highlight the history of local figures who achieve international recognition.