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The Book of Space Rockets
Join Cogz the Robot Dog and discover all about how space machines work, in this bright and fun STEM title. Cogz and his mice sidekicks, Nutty and Bolt, guide the reader through the workings of a rocket, looking closely at all the different parts and discovering information about real space missions and the spacecraft involved, including the Mars Rover and Apollo missions. Covering key STEM themes of engineering, physics, and inventions, and with a fun quiz to test young readers' knowledge, this book will get kids engaged and hands-on with learning. Bite-sized text and bright, informative illustrations introduce the transport topics in a simple, appealing way for young readers with a passion for vehicles and machines.
- GenresNonfiction
24 pages, Hardcover
Published May 14, 2019
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Neil Clark
50 books9 followersNeil Clark is a music-loving, star-gazing illustrator and author. His rural upbringing, in the Yorkshire Wolds, fuelled a playful imagination and a love of storytelling. This, combined with a degree in Illustration & Animation, led to a successful career in design. Neil has now found his happy place, writing and illustrating children's books.
Children's Books: Represented by Plum Pudding Agency
Children's Books: Represented by Plum Pudding Agency
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 5, 2019
This little picture book about rockets and spacecraft isn't terrible, but it's overly sanitized and could lead to some uncomfortable questions.
The illustrations are decent and everything's easy to see. The rockets seem a little bit simplified, but for very young children, it's probably all right. The main problems I have come from the book's insistence on mentioning certain topics but not following up with the unpleasant truth. There's Laika, who's touted as the first dog in space. She's cheerily introducing herself to Cogz the dog. What's going to happen when kids find out she was shot into space, got overheated, and died within hours? There's a cheery bedtime story. Then there's the issue of the Space Shuttle program. We're told the shuttles were in use between 1981 and 2011... but there's no mention of why they stopped being used. Challenger and Columbia are ignored. (Now, I'm not saying that this book needs to go into all those grisly details, but curious kids may ask why Space Shuttles stopped being used. This book doesn't provide any answers.)
The layout is a little bit weird, as it doesn't go in chronological order. We learn about the lunar module, then satellites, then the Mars rover, then the ISS, then the Space Shuttle program... It might've worked better if these technologies had been discussed in the order they were developed. Also, it's mentioned that rockets are mostly single-use technology, ignoring recent developments in that area. Kids who are really into rockets are going to want to know why this book doesn't talk about things they may have seen on the news!
I'm also left wondering why the reference to the Canadarm isn't capitalized, but terms like "lunar module" are. Maybe the book needs another round of editing.
So, overall, while this isn't a bad book, it's a little too simplified in certain places (especially for its tech-savvy audience) and glosses over the dangers and failures of our explorations into space. It might be a good place to start, but kids who are really interested in this topic are going to want a lot more information.
Thank you to NetGalley and QEB Publishing for providing a digital ARC.
The illustrations are decent and everything's easy to see. The rockets seem a little bit simplified, but for very young children, it's probably all right. The main problems I have come from the book's insistence on mentioning certain topics but not following up with the unpleasant truth. There's Laika, who's touted as the first dog in space. She's cheerily introducing herself to Cogz the dog. What's going to happen when kids find out she was shot into space, got overheated, and died within hours? There's a cheery bedtime story. Then there's the issue of the Space Shuttle program. We're told the shuttles were in use between 1981 and 2011... but there's no mention of why they stopped being used. Challenger and Columbia are ignored. (Now, I'm not saying that this book needs to go into all those grisly details, but curious kids may ask why Space Shuttles stopped being used. This book doesn't provide any answers.)
The layout is a little bit weird, as it doesn't go in chronological order. We learn about the lunar module, then satellites, then the Mars rover, then the ISS, then the Space Shuttle program... It might've worked better if these technologies had been discussed in the order they were developed. Also, it's mentioned that rockets are mostly single-use technology, ignoring recent developments in that area. Kids who are really into rockets are going to want to know why this book doesn't talk about things they may have seen on the news!
I'm also left wondering why the reference to the Canadarm isn't capitalized, but terms like "lunar module" are. Maybe the book needs another round of editing.
So, overall, while this isn't a bad book, it's a little too simplified in certain places (especially for its tech-savvy audience) and glosses over the dangers and failures of our explorations into space. It might be a good place to start, but kids who are really interested in this topic are going to want a lot more information.
Thank you to NetGalley and QEB Publishing for providing a digital ARC.
June 9, 2019
'Clever Cogz: The Book of Space Rockets' by Neil Clark is a picture book for young readers to teach them about rockets and space exploration.
Join Cogz the Robot Dod and his friends to learn about space travel. Starting with rocket designs in the 1960s, the reader will learn about rockets like the Saturn V, how rockets are made, and how rockets have been used. From the lunar landing to robots on Mars and the space station, the book is full of fun, colorful drawings to get readers excited about space.
This book is told from primarily an American viewpoint, but there are a couple nods to other designs. The illustrations are fun. With the upcoming 50th anniversary of the moon landing, this is a well timed book.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - QEB, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Join Cogz the Robot Dod and his friends to learn about space travel. Starting with rocket designs in the 1960s, the reader will learn about rockets like the Saturn V, how rockets are made, and how rockets have been used. From the lunar landing to robots on Mars and the space station, the book is full of fun, colorful drawings to get readers excited about space.
This book is told from primarily an American viewpoint, but there are a couple nods to other designs. The illustrations are fun. With the upcoming 50th anniversary of the moon landing, this is a well timed book.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - QEB, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
June 6, 2019
The Book of Space Rockets is a colourful and educational book that teaches children about the mechanics of rockets. I loved how colourful the drawings were without being bright and obnoxious. The writing is simple and easy to understand, putting the basics in without going on and on and becoming confusing. The questions at the end were wonderful, as they take a cute little book and turn it into a learning experience.
My sixteen month old son who loves all things that go vroom loved the pictures, this would be a great book for children to grow with.
My sixteen month old son who loves all things that go vroom loved the pictures, this would be a great book for children to grow with.
August 4, 2020
A pleasant primer for young astronauts of the future, which discusses the parts of space rockets and their engines, before branching off to specific vehicles, from the ISS to the Shuttle and the relevant bits of the Apollo landings' tech and so on. There's very little text, but it and the (low level of) interactivity the characters conveying things bring are fine, and the cartoonish pictures certainly have clarity.
June 3, 2019
Thank you #netgalley for giving me a copy of #TheBookOfSpaceRockets to review. This nonfiction book about space and rockets is great for K-6th grade students. The formatting is perfect for keeping kids interested. There is a lot of information packed into this book, but it's presented in a way that makes it easy to digest. The illustrations and diagrams add to the learning and will help teachers explain text features. I will look into buying this for my library.
May 30, 2019
I received an arc of this title for an honest review. I loved this informational book about space perfect for young kids. There is a lot of information but it is presented in a fun way with lots of pictures and not as much text.
May 23, 2019
Awesome Stem children's book! Loved the interactive structure of the story. great illustrations and informative facts.
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
February 12, 2020Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
September 13, 2021
Join Clever Cogz the Robot Dog and his buddies, Nutty and Bolt, as they earn about rockets and other space vehicles. First, explore rockets, learning about their design, flight, and fuel. Then explore spacecraft, the Lunar Module, and satellites. Learn about exploring Mars with the Mars Rover; then explore the space station and the space shuttle.
In this simple introduction to physics and engineering topics, young readers will find each colorfully illustrated double page holds a small amount of text. Speech bubbles and arrow-directed information [pointing to a specific portion of a picture or object] provide most of the information for the young reader. Each double page provides the readers with short, easy-to-understand explanations using simple vocabulary.
The targeted audience for this book is kindergarten through second grade. As a result, only the most basic information is included and there is no discussion regarding the results of some programs [such as Laika’s death; rockets exploding on the launch pad; lost satellites; the loss of two space shuttles]. This feels appropriate, given the young age of the intended audience and the intention of offering only a basic overview for the young primary grade reader.
However, the order of presentation is a bit strange; chronological order would seem to make more sense. By presenting the information from the beginning and moving sequentially through to the latest, young readers would develop a stronger base for developing an understanding of space programs and activities.
Recommended, especially for young readers interested in rockets, space, and space travel.
In this simple introduction to physics and engineering topics, young readers will find each colorfully illustrated double page holds a small amount of text. Speech bubbles and arrow-directed information [pointing to a specific portion of a picture or object] provide most of the information for the young reader. Each double page provides the readers with short, easy-to-understand explanations using simple vocabulary.
The targeted audience for this book is kindergarten through second grade. As a result, only the most basic information is included and there is no discussion regarding the results of some programs [such as Laika’s death; rockets exploding on the launch pad; lost satellites; the loss of two space shuttles]. This feels appropriate, given the young age of the intended audience and the intention of offering only a basic overview for the young primary grade reader.
However, the order of presentation is a bit strange; chronological order would seem to make more sense. By presenting the information from the beginning and moving sequentially through to the latest, young readers would develop a stronger base for developing an understanding of space programs and activities.
Recommended, especially for young readers interested in rockets, space, and space travel.
October 22, 2020
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Very bright and colorful. Cute characters. Lots of information. A great kids book.
Very bright and colorful. Cute characters. Lots of information. A great kids book.
May 25, 2019
Neat concept, but poorly executed. Some of the wording was off, and the pictures didn't really compliment the text.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews