André het Astronautje
Birra Stout is the typeface used for André het Astronautje (“André, the little Astronaut”).
During his second mission on board the ISS, Dutch astronaut André Kuipers conceived a story featuring his alter ego. It’s the first children’s book ever written in space. After he had returned to earth in 2012, the story was enriched with illustrations by Natascha Stenvert. Book designer Stan Van Steendam picked Birra for the typography. This choice might have been inspired by the letter o – in this context, it sure looks like a moon with a crater, or a space capsule, doesn’t it?
Published by Uitgeverij Moon, the book became an instant success, selling 10,000 copies in the first three months alone. In the meantime, there’s a whole series of books as well as toy dolls and other merchandise, since 2017 published by Fontaine Uitgevers in cooperation with Spaceplays. The adventures of the little astronaut were also made into a play that is shown in theaters across the country.
Birra Stout is used for the logo and the books’ titles throughout the series, proving its versatility. The bold display typeface also appears on the interior pages where it’s paired with Hercules and Korolev.
André het astronautje leert tellen (“André the little Astronaut learns to count”)
André het astronautje leert de kleuren (“André the little Astronaut learns the colors”)
Hoe word je astronaut? (“How do you become an astronaut?”).
Title page from André het astronautje op reis naar de Planeten (“André the little Astronaut traveling to the planets”).
Interior spread from André het astronautje op reis naar de Planeten. Birra Stout Stout is paired with the sans-serif Korolev.
Interior spread from André het astronautje – terug naar de aarde (“André the little Astronaut – back to earth”). The text typeface is Hercules.
André Kuipers with a “little astronaut” patch on his right arm.
