Rover Throws a Party: Inspired by NASA's Curiosity on Mars

by Kristin L. Gray, Scott Magoon (Illustrator)

Overview

Inspired by NASA's Curiosity rover, this is the story of a lonely Mars rover who plans the best birthday party in the solar system.

It's Rover's anniversary on Mars! Time to celebrate by throwing the best party this planet has ever seen. Rover hands out invitations all over town, but it seems like he's the only one around. Will anyone come to the party, or will Rover be all alone on his big day?

In 2013, NASA programmed their Curiosity rover to hum "Happy Birthday to You" in honor of its first year on Mars. Inspired by this anecdote, this is the tale of a lonely rover and his party, accompanied by fascinating Mars rover facts that help explain the real science behind the story. This fun birthday tale provides an accessible, kid-friendly look at one of NASA's coolest programs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525646488
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	03/31/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,135,437
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Kristin L. Gray drinks coffee (cream, no sugar) and writes books (funny, not sad) from her home in northwest Arkansas. She loves to read, walk her dogs, and eat cake for breakfast. She will also travel any chance she gets. Her debut novel, Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge, published with S&S in 2017. Visit her at KristinLGray.com and follow her on Twitter at @kristinlgray.

Scott Magoon has illustrated several acclaimed picture books, including the New York Times bestselling RESCUE & JESSICA: A LIFE-CHANGING FRIENDSHIP by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, MISUNDERSTOOD SHARK by Ame Dyckman, SPOON by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and THE NUTS series by Eric Litwin. He is also the author-illustrator of BREATHE and THE BOY WHO CRIED BIGFOOT! He lives in Massachusetts. Visit him online at www.scottmagoon.com.

Editorial Reviews

2019-12-08
After a year of digging, sifting, baking, sweeping, and photographing the surface of Mars, it's party time.

Unlike Sara Schonfeld's effervescent Birthday on Mars!, illustrated by Andrew J. Ross (2019), this introduction to the durable Curiosity (still ticking over six years after its original mission's conclusion) is as dry overall as the red planet itself. "Ack! Spooked by my own shadow. That happens when you're the ONLY ONE on a planet," reads Curiosity's narration, set in a typeface that looks like a digital readout. Supplemental text explains, "Shadows are made on Mars in the same way they are formed on Earth, by an object blocking the light. In this case, the rover is blocking sunlight." In strained efforts to inject some color into Gray's drab descriptions of Curiosity's gear, activities, and surroundings, Magoon tops the angularly drawn rover's "ChemCam" with a perky party hat partway through, litters the dimly lit Martian landscape with printed invitations, and, confusingly, rolls in a nonexistent second rover bearing party balloons to get the festivities underway. Readers will likely find the closing author's note, which includes a dramatic account of the rover's landing, notes on each of its six specialized cameras, and several color photos, more memorable than the stolid preceding narrative.

An also-ran bearing a respectable informational payload but inching along a well-covered track. (bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews