Back in the day, if you were to find me and my friends at one of our many meetup spots in our neighborhood, you’d probably have thought we were having some kind of strange hallucinations. Much of our play was spent playing make believe with nothing but our imaginations needed to build our own worlds, conflicts, and adventures.
We played until the scenario ran out of steam. Then, we’d switch genres, characters, and situations and build to that same euphoric momentum of flying, fighting invisible bad guys, or shapeshifting into a multitude of talking animals. There usually wasn’t a beginning or an end, only a middle where we left our ordinary surroundings and went on an adventure that we could not have otherwise.
So, I found it relatable to read the synopsis of Dr. Umo’s first book in The Adventures of Titus and Tori series, Countdown to the Moon, in which two friends use their imaginations to cure themselves of their boredom. Below is my review of the book followed by an interview with Dr. Umo.
Countdown to the Moon plot summary
One day in the backyard, a dog named Titus complains that he’s bored. So, his best friend, another dog named Tori, gets the idea to go to the moon.
Using their imagination, the two friends dream up a space shuttle which launches them into outer space. On the moon, the two jump around and explore the moon before packing up and heading home and anticipating their next adventure.
The story
Countdown to the Moon is a fun tale about combating boredom with imagination. It’s refreshing to show how these two friends can turn inspiration into a realistic style of play.
There’s an energy and enthusiasm to the text that makes the reader feel like they are along for the ride. Despite being dogs, Titus and Tori interact and play just like kids, making them relatable both as individuals and as a pair.
The only real conflict in the story is curing Titus’ boredom. That conflict is solved very quickly, and the rest of the book is about having fun and dreaming up scenarios that would be fun to have in outer space.
The adventure is never scary or dangerous, only fun and entirely within their control. Titus and Tori are there for a good time, and that’s what they end up having.
The characters
Titus and Tori are the only two characters in the book. On Dr. Umo’s website, Titus is described as brave, loyal, and always up for an adventure. Tori is the one who thinks up the ideas and carries them out. It’s a great combination that makes for a successful friendship.
The two are also very independent. They each do their own thing on the moon, and they give each other the space to have their own mini adventures. I love that they are both game for anything and that they do it together in their own individual ways.
The illustrations
The book is also illustrated by Dr. Umo. The illustrations are very colorful, busy, and full of life from the backyard littered with dog toys and vegetation to the sparkly stars of outer space and the crater-filled moon terrain that they walk on.
Both dogs have somewhat unamused expressions. It’s a funny juxtaposition between those expressions and the energetic text as well as their very animated movements.
The two also have very distinct styles of spacesuits. Titus has a very patriotic-looking suit, complete with American flag bandana with room to hop and twirl. Tori’s looks more like a patchwork quilt that seems to be more snug and stoic.
The illustrations also incorporate actual photos taken during historical American space missions including several Apollo missions and the 2026 Artemis II mission. Tori is studying these photos in a book when she first suggests that she and Titus spend the day in space. I think this creates a very good conversational opportunity for young readers and would encourage them to seek out more space knowledge and photos.
My recommendation
I recommend Countdown to the Moon to any preschool or elementary school aged reader who loves animal books, space, or even just stories about two friends using their imaginations to have a good time. It’s a quick read, with just a sentence or two per page. It blends fantasy with science in a way that inspires kids without loading them down with facts.
Still, I might have incorporated a few general facts about space, possibly from Tori’s book, to add a little extra educational element to the story. Ultimately, though, this book accomplishes what it sets out to do, and I look forward to seeing Titus and Tori’s next adventure.
My rating
Enter the giveaway!
An interview with Dr. Umo
This is the first book in an emerging series. Do you have a plan for the entire series, or are you approaching it book by book? Have there been any differences in writing Book 1 versus Book 2?
The series began with a clear idea: each adventure would start with Titus and Tori reading a book about a historical subject that would interest young readers, carrying them into an imaginative world where they could experience that history for themselves. I did not map out every future title from the beginning, but I knew the stories would share that foundation—friendship, imagination, discovery, and the joy of learning together. I approach each book individually, choosing a real historical story that feels exciting and meaningful while remaining true to the characters and the spirit of the series.
With Book 1, I was establishing the rules of Titus and Tori’s world—how a book sparks their imaginations, how their adventures begin, and how real history becomes part of their play. Writing Book 2, The Great Road Trip with Bud, felt different because Titus and Tori’s personalities and relationship were already established. I could focus more deeply on their friendship while introducing Bud, the real dog who accompanied America’s first cross-country automobile journey in 1903.
The dogs are very imaginative in their play. Was this the way you played growing up?
Yes. I grew up before the digital era, when books provided the transportation to other worlds and adventures. They often became the launching pad for imaginative play long after the last page had been turned.
I experienced the power of books again when my children were young. Their ability to ignite the imagination created wonderful opportunities for us to play, explore, and share adventures together—and brought a special closeness between my children and me.
How did you come up with the dogs’ distinct, yet compatible personalities?
Titus and Tori are inspired by the personalities of my real dogs. Titus is energetic, curious, and always ready to “GO BIG!” Tori is calmer and more thoughtful, often guiding the friends toward their next adventure in her own special way. Tori is also unique in how she experiences and communicates with the world—an important part of her character that will be revealed more fully in future books.
Their differences make them compatible. Titus brings excitement and boldness, while Tori brings patience, understanding, and quiet confidence. Each has qualities the other needs, and together they show how two very different personalities can complement one another and form a wonderful friendship.
Because the characters are based on my real dogs, photographs of the real Titus and Tori appear in each book. This helps connect the different layers of the series. Real dogs become illustrated characters who discover real history through books, that history inspires their fictional adventures, and those adventures will then, hopefully, inspire real young readers.
What was it about space exploration that made you decide that this would be the first adventure for Titus and Tori? What is your favorite fact about space?
What I love most about space is its grandness. Its seemingly endless scale reflects the vastness of human imagination and our desire to discover what lies beyond the world we know. That sense of wonder made space exploration the perfect first adventure for Titus and Tori. It allowed them to “GO BIG!” in every sense while introducing young readers to a remarkable moment in real history.
My favorite fact about space is simply how vast it is—far greater than we can fully comprehend. Yet human beings have still imagined, explored, and found ways to reach beyond Earth. To me, that shows the extraordinary power of curiosity and imagination.
You also illustrated the book. How closely did the final product resemble your original idea for the look of the illustrations? At what point did incorporating the authentic space photos into the story come into play?
The key was transforming my real dogs into lovable cartoon characters like the ones I enjoyed reading about as a child and that my own children loved while they were growing up. Once I finalized Titus and Tori’s illustrated appearances, the rest of the book came together very much in line with my original ideas and vision.
Incorporating authentic historical photographs was part of the concept from the very beginning. I wanted the fictional adventure to introduce children to real moments in history and use those images to spark their curiosity. My hope is that seeing the actual photographs alongside Titus and Tori’s illustrated world will inspire young readers to want to discover more about space, the Apollo missions, and the history behind the adventure.
Do you have a favorite page?
My favorite page is the one where Titus is bouncing high on the Moon. It is playful and perfectly captures his energetic, adventurous personality. It also reflects the sense of fun and joy I hope to bring to every story while subtly introducing young readers to real history and discovery.
What positive feedback have you received about your book?
The book is still new and was only recently published, so most of the feedback has come from friends and family. They have responded warmly to the story’s simple but playful concept, and they especially enjoy seeing our real-life pups come alive on the page.
They also appreciate the book’s celebration of reading and history, particularly in a digital era when books are so often being replaced by devices. Perhaps the most amusing response is that many of them now want me to introduce their own pets into the series, which is funny, but also completely true!
Who do you most want to read Countdown to the Moon?
I most want the book to reach young children who are beginning to discover the joy of reading, especially those who love animals, adventure, imagination, or space. I hope Titus and Tori can help them see that history is not simply something from the past, but a collection of remarkable stories waiting to be explored.
Just as importantly, I hope parents, grandparents, and caregivers will read the book with the children in their lives. The series was created around the idea that books can bring people together, inspire shared adventures, and create memories that remain long after the story ends.
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