Back of Book:
Mixing humor with solid space and rover facts, this picture book gives an inside look into Opportunity’s time on Mars. An interplanetary detective, Oppy spent 15 years on the red planet taking thousands of pictures and making groundbreaking discoveries that she transmitted to scientists and engineers back on Earth. From joyriding on Olympus Mons, to racing away from a treacherous dust storm, Oppy’s adventure in space–combined with her grit and perseverance–will inspire and educate young readers of all ages.
My Review:
I received a copy of this picture book from Boyd Mills Press in exchange for an honest review. I am so excited to be apart of the blog tour for this fun space-themed story.
Good Night, Oppy! by James McGowan focuses on Opportunity, a rover whose job is to explore and report from Planet Mars. Readers follow along as Opportunity collects clues and makes discoveries just like a detective. Throughout the story, readers are introduced to facts like Opportunity is solar-powered, and that she has been working on Mars for over fourteen years. The text is broken up into two different sections, the larger-sized text tells the story, while the smaller text has facts and information about planet Mars. The text also discusses what the scientists back on earth do with the data that Opportunity collects. The illustrations by Graham Carter are charming. Each facial expression clearly showcases Oppy’s curiosity and determination. The back of the book includes more information and sources as well as color photos of what Opportunity has discovered on Mars. As a teacher, I am always on the lookout for STEM books that are full of facts and fun. I think I will use Good Night, Oppy! to teach my students about predictions. We can guess what else Opportunity will find on planet Mars. I believe this book is the perfect blend of nonfiction and imagination.
Ages 5 and up
32 Pages
Publishes September 14th, 2021
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