Anne Drozd

The Science Comics series cleverly uses Socratic dialogue to teach comics-loving kids about scientific topics. Both of these books employ (usually) animal characters with well-drawn personalities asking questions and talking (or arguing) among themselves to propel the reader through an incredible quantity of facts. I love the device of a multi-party conversation because different readers may identify with different characters -- the know-it-all, or the quiet one, or the nervous one, or the show more bold one -- and keep reading to see how the argument resolves. Of the two, Solar System weights story more heavily, traversing the solar system, while Rockets is more of an argument among the characters that traverses the history of rocket technology. Both are fun. (Full disclosure: I wrote the introduction to Rockets and fact-checked Solar System.) show less

This is one of many books in the Science Comics series. This book introduces the history and science of rockets, presented in an appealing graphic novel format. This book may appear for a young audience, with animal characters, but the historical facts and science concepts presented are complex and difficult to understand at times. Even as an adult, some concepts were confusing and the format felt a bit chaotic at times, but I was able to understand the important ideas. The authors did a show more great job presenting difficult to understand ideas by comparing them to familiar scenarios. For example, g-force is explained by comparing the force felt at the top and bottom when swinging. show less

This comic book provides some fairly interesting science associated with rocketry and propulsion. I am unclear whether it would appeal to children or not. I have a PhD in engineering and learned a few things. Maybe the use of animals telling the story and adding a bit of humor would make it more interesting. I actually was looking for a book with more detail about futuristic space transport. The book only mentioned the space sail.

This graphic novel explaining the science behind rockets and space travel is the perfect addition to a classroom library, especially a science classroom, with its detailed illustrations and easy to read text for any age. It is a great mentor text to use in a study about space, force and motion, or energy. It is also a great mentor text to use in a study of graphic novels.