Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover

by Markus Motum, Markus Motum (Illustrator)

Overview

“A handsome and engaging children’s book. . . . This accessible look at interplanetary exploration will appeal to a broad range of young space enthusiasts.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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. 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? The popular NASA rover narrates how and why she traveled more than 350,000,000 miles to explore a planet no human has ever visited . . . and what she has been doing there for the past decade or so. 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536242294
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	01/07/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Markus Motum studied illustration at the University for the Creative Arts in England, where he rediscovered his love of picture books. Curiosity is his first book for children. Markus Motum lives in Brighton, England.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/22/2018
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.)

Publishers Weekly

The Mars rover Curiosity narrates her own story in Motum’s handsome and engaging children’s book debut...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.
—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

From the Publisher

2017-11-22
The latest and greatest of the Mars rovers tells its tale and explains its purpose.Fans of the eponymous robot star of the film WALL-E will see a kindred spirit in this chronicle's narrator as it wheels its lonely way over dimly lit Martian barrens, glassy camera-eye held jauntily above its buggy-shaped chassis. Emphasizing flat, geometric shapes to give his big scenes a retro look, Motum begins with stylized views of the red planet, then briefly summarizes Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon's surface before showing Curiosity under construction, then in schematic fashion depicts each stage of the rover's launch, long voyage, and final descent. "Touchdown confirmed. We're safe on Mars!" (An actual quote, though from a NASA official, not the fictive narrator.) The oversized trim accommodates sweeping views of space, panoramas of both the control room and Mars, and a 90-degree turn to dramatize liftoff. The narrative proceeds in a methodical, matter-of-fact way to lay out details of the rover's design and assembly—by, in the art at least, a carefully diverse crew of NASA workers—along with its space journey and what it has been up to since its 2012 landing. Suggesting that its findings are likely to provide as many questions as answers, 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. (timeline, glossary, note on other Mars rovers) (Informational picture book. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews