Peaks Island author and illustrator finds inspiration in an astronaut’s journey
Maine Illustrator Turns Local Astronaut into Children’s Book Hero
In February, NASA invited author‑illustrator Jamie Hogan to watch the launch of SpaceX’s Crew‑12, the rocket carrying astronauts Jessica Meir, Timothy D. L. Sturgis, and two Russian cosmonauts to the International Space Station. While the ceremony drew a packed crowd at Cape Canaveral, Hogan’s real mission was to capture Meir’s story for a new picture book that will hit bookstores this fall.
Hogan, a longtime Maine resident, began sketching the book while she was finishing a previous project, Sky Watcher. “I read about her in the paper while she was on the ISS,” she told the Press Herald. “I thought her pursuits, her education, and her passions all just seemed really visual to me.” Meir—who grew up in Caribou, a town known for its dark night skies—has been a source of inspiration for the illustrator since she first learned of the astronaut’s background.
Jessica Meir’s childhood in rural Maine fostered a fascination with the stars. “There’s Northern Lights,” her parents would say, pulling her and her sister outside one night to witness a natural spectacle. The experience stuck with Hogan, who later recalled, “We have to bear witness to nature and the wilderness. It’s in us too. I live that and I want to share that.”
Meir’s career has spanned several disciplines before she entered NASA’s astronaut program. When Hogan visited the Caribou library to gather research, the librarian provided an archive that included Meir’s yearbook, in which the young astronaut recorded a childhood dream: “I want to go for a spacewalk.” Hogan notes that the desire was evident from the age of five, “and she didn’t let go of that.” The book’s narrative will trace that dream through Meir’s studies, her work as a marine scientist diving in Antarctica to study penguins, and her eventual selection to pilot Crew‑12.
“The drawing comes after I’ve done a lot of research,” Hogan explained. She keeps a ring‑bound sketchbook in which she glues clippings, photographs, and notes. “I then start to think about how I am going to visualize this. Then my process usually begins with a storyboard.” Her illustration style blends realism with a child‑friendly aesthetic, a blend she first honed while creating newspaper and magazine pieces before moving into children’s literature.
Hogan’s interest in writing began in the 1990s when she moved to Maine, became a mother, and discovered how powerful storytelling can be for children. “Reading to my daughter changed my life,” she said. “I wanted to illustrate a book, I wanted to write a book. It was becoming a parent and really being in the market for kids’ books and appreciating what amazing nuggets they are when they work well.”
The forthcoming book, The Cosmic Journey of Jessica Meir, will follow Meir’s life from the small town of Caribou to the frontiers of space. In addition to Meir’s professional achievements, the book will highlight the dark skies that first captivated the astronaut and the scientific curiosity that guided her.
NASA’s Crew‑12 mission, which began in early 2026, places Meir as a mission specialist and commander, underscoring the real‑world relevance of the story that Hogan is turning into a child’s visual narrative. As the launch drew international attention, Hogan’s invitation to watch the launch served as a fitting bridge between the public’s awe of space exploration and the private inspiration she found in Meir’s journey.
The Cosmic Journey of Jessica Meir is slated for release in the fall, offering Maine’s own stories of the stars to a national audience of young readers.
