Cosmo Park
Age 7+
Science & Technology: General Interest
The Universal Nature Park is a place of wonder and scientific adventure, but watch out – there are mysterious and nefarious plots afoot, and it’s not all fun and learning when the Universe is at stake…
Hop on a hover-buggy to the centre of the Milky Way and catch a ride around the Universal Nature Park to learn some amazing facts about our galactic neighbourhood. Maybe you’ll spot some tricksy black holes trying to escape their enclosure, or perhaps you’ll get caught in a meteorite storm (don’t forget your comet-repellent umbrella!), and make sure you wrap up warm for the freezing end of the Universe!
This colourful comic informs and explains some of the key tenets of cosmology in an engaging and accessible way, following a narrative and packing in fascinating facts and concepts along the way. Kids will emerge from this world with new-found knowledge about the nature of our Universe, and a thirst to learn and explore on their own.
Creators
Madeleine Finlay wrote Beetles for Breakfast and is incredibly knowledgeable about astrophysics and physics, as she has a first-class master’s degree in them! She has been producing the Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast since last year and is currently running a series covering the COP26 in Scotland.
Tom Dearie is a British Illustrator and cartoonist working from a desk in the east end of London or sat on a rock somewhere out at sea.
Reviews
Imagine Jurassic Park but replace dinosaurs with the wonders of the universe! […] The language is fast-paced and accessible to readers of all ages, breaking down the mysteries of space in a way that’s fun and easy to understand. Kara actually experiences the concepts she learns about […] so the story reads like an adventure rather than a science lesson. […] The illustrations are colourful and whimsical, hitting the right balance between a romp through a theme park and all the drama of stars exploding. […] The perfect graphic novel for readers who love science, comics, adventure stories and mischievous feline sidekicks.
Inis Magazine
Astrophysicist Finlay makes her graphic novel debut in this frenetic introduction to cosmology […] Finlay utilizes existential questions about gravity, relativity, black holes, and other mysteries of the universe to conjure an interstellar romp of cosmic proportions. Densely packed cartooning rendered in bold, bright color palettes by Dearie depicts scientific concepts with visual humor.
Publisher's Weekly
