By Markus Motum, with expert advice from Stuart Atkinson (Walker Studio)
‘Wherever you are in the world right now,
I’m a very long way away.
I’m not even on the same planet as you.
I’m a Mars Rover. This is my story.’
So starts Marcus Motum’s brilliant debut book about Curiosity, the Mars rover that landed on the ‘Red Planet’ in 2012.
Looking at NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission from the rover’s point of view, the book follows the development, launch and landing of Curiosity, and is full of interesting details about Mars. Many of these facts are separate from the main story, which is ideal for avoiding confusion with younger readers.
The bold illustrations, particularly of Curiosity and its journey, are clearly labelled and show the complexity of today’s space programme, while the stunning presentation gives an insight into the Mars mission itself that is easily accessible to children and adults.
This book would be a wonderful addition to any science-minded child’s bookshelf, and a splendid addition to any Key Stage 2 study of space and planets.
It has just been announced that ‘Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover’ has made the shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize 2018! The award was set up in honour of Klaus Flugge, a prominent figure in the world of children’s picture books, and is awarded to “the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration”. Congratulations to Motum, who must be feeling very proud right now, and good luck to the book for the award finals! You can read more about the Klaus Flugge Prize and see the rest of the shortlisted books at their website https://www.klausfluggeprize.co.uk/.
