Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover
by Markus Motum (Author) Markus Motum (Illustrator)
Maybe you remember when a little robotic spacecraft landed on a far-off planet. On August 6, 2012, the rover Curiosity touched down on the rocky surface of Mars — and now she’s ready to guide you through her journey firsthand. From idea to creation and beyond, this fact-filled, stylish book introduces readers to Curiosity and her mission: to discover more about the red planet and search for evidence of life. How did Curiosity get her name? What tools does she use to carry out her tasks? In her own voice, the popular NASA rover tells how and why she traveled more than 350,000,000 miles to explore a planet no human has ever visited . . . and what she’s been doing there. In his debut picture book, Markus Motum brings Curiosity’s story to life in vivid color: the deep blues of space set off the warm, rusted hues of Mars’s dusty red surface, marking this lovable rover and her mission as something special — truly a world apart.
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Publishers Weekly
The Mars rover Curiosity narrates her own story in Motum's handsome and engaging children's book debut, from her construction in a clean lab in California to her multistage launch into space and landing on the red planet: "years of testing were needed to make sure everything would work correctly the first time. After all, if something were to go wrong on Mars, no one could come and fix me." Motum's mixed-media illustrations cleverly recall art popular during the infancy of space travel--muted colors and spare, geometric patterns compose often-diagrammatic illustrations. One close-up details the rover's many parts: "Just like you, I have a shoulder, elbow, and wrist." With one of its cameras resembling a large eye, Curiosity appears lifelike, almost E.T.-esque, in keeping with the first-person narrative. The book's large trim size and expansive scenes work in tandem to evoke the vastness of star-filled skies and reddish Martian landscapes. Originally published in the U.K., this accessible look at interplanetary exploration will appeal to a broad range of young space enthusiasts. A glossary and timeline of Mars missions is included. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)
Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
—Publishers Weekly (starred review) Fans of the eponymous robot star of the film WALL-E will see a kindred spirit in this chronicle's narrator...Curiosity concludes with the thought that its wheel tracks may one day be joined by footprints. Here's hoping. The personification adds an appealing angle to this venturesome visit to Earth's closest planetary neighbor.
—Kirkus Reviews Motum's retro mixed-media artwork, in muted tones and stylish yet recognizable shapes, is a fantastic vehicle for this informative, inviting glimpse into an exciting STEM topic.
—Booklist Engaging in the thoughtful question, "Is there anybody else out there?," Curiosity, the rover, goes on a 350,000,000 mile journey into the universe to find some answers. This charming personified robot tells her unique story to an audience that is sure to be captivated.
—New York Journal of Books Oversized format, with dramatic black backgrounds and futuristic geometric renderings, make this a good choice for classroom sharing, and text that allows an adult reader to charge ahead with the main information—or to linger over technical details—adds to its flexibility.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
JNF051040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Astronomy
JNF051170 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Discoveries
JNF061020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Technology | Robotics
