Volcanoes Are Hot!

December 22, 2023
Grades 3-5 In a successful effort to make his introduction to our physical universe not only painless but funny, Cham embeds it in the ruminations and misadventures of a budding astrophysicist. Eleven-year-old Oliver's decision to write a book about space while navigating the rapids of middle school leads to a series of short comics and cartoon-laden minilectures on, for instance, the planets, our "squishploding" Sun, food related theories about the shape of the universe (A meatball? A donut? Maybe a "really long burrito"?), and ways in which the Big Bang was like what would happen if someone farted in a crowded school hallway. Black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and like mysteries come up, too--along with the ins and outs of living with a smart little sister, having to explain to the principal that "Uranus" has nothing to do with butts, and bonding with a new friend and then discovering that she and her parents are moving away for a year. The fictional plotline, though more or less incidental, does weave the instructional elements of this STEM-centric tale together and supply it with an engaging human cast. An extra comic at the end dishes up a bit about the search for extraterrestrial life, along with a bit about time dilation on the side.

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August 1, 2023
A stellar confluence of comic episodes and cosmic information. Robotics Ph.D., author, podcaster, and PBS Kids' show creator Cham offers a straightforward and amusing guide to the universe through the eyes of a middle schooler. Copious cartoon vignettes and graphics ramp up both the instruction and entertainment. Oliver introduces himself as a normal 11-year-old, not always on task or even paying attention. One day in fifth grade, however, he became enthralled and motivated by space and decided to become an astrophysicist. Dr. Howard, the catalyst and his preternaturally patient ongoing mentor, is the scientist husband of his teacher. Folded into the science (along with groanworthy puns, helpfully indexed fart jokes, and bathroom humor) is a storyline about transitioning to middle school, where, happily, Oliver makes a friend in Evie, an artistic girl he creates planet cartoons with--along with the book we're reading. In addition to brilliantly integrated comic moments--an escaped hamster, a run-in with the principal, a hypothetical chat with an alien--surprising plot twists add narrative pizzazz to a serious raft of data about the universe. Common experiences, like a road trip, sibling dealmaking, and Halloween scares, will make readers chuckle. Terms are defined in the text. A bonus spread supplies especially jaw-dropping data crumbs that will make a big bang in family dinner conversations. Oliver and his family have paper-white skin and black hair; Dr. Howard and Evie read Black, and Mrs. Howard appears white. An irresistibly entertaining introduction to astrophysics. (resources, index) (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12)

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