“Mind-expanding and hilarious! I got smarter reading this!”
Jeff Kinney, author of the international bestselling series Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Cosmos meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Oliver’s Great Big Universe, an original illustrated middle-grade fiction series that blends science with narrative from the Emmy Award–nominated creator of PBS’s Elinor Wonders Why.
I know what you’re thinking. What makes an average 11-year-old kid qualified to tell you anything about the universe?
Am I famous scientist? No.
Am I a super-genius at everything? Not really.
Oliver has a lot going on starting his first year of middle school—new friends, new classes, new everything. But at least there’s one thing that still makes sense: science! Determined to be an astrophysicist one day, Oliver explains everything he learns—like how the sun burps, how ghost particles fly through you, the uncanny similarities between Mercury and cafeteria meatballs, and most important, how the Big Bang is basically just like a fart in the school hallway. (Also, there are time-bending black holes, exploding supernova stars, and aliens! Well, there could be aliens.)
Oliver finally feels like he’s starting to figure things out . . . but can he stay out of the principal’s office or catch a break from his annoying sister?
With laugh-out-loud humor and cartoon-style illustrations from the bestselling writer and creator of PHD Comics, Jorge Cham, Oliver’s Great Big Universe is a STEAM-themed, diary-style series following an 11-year-old who’s taking on the whole universe—if he can survive middle school first.
Praise
“Mind-expanding and hilarious! — I got smarter reading this!”Jeff Kinney, author of the international bestselling series Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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"Prepare for liftoff! This is exactly the sort of book that can turn reluctant readers into lifelong learners. An absolute gem!"Lincoln Peirce, bestselling creator of Big Nate and Max & the Midknights
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"Such a pleasure to read a book about the universe that is overflowing with both fun and facts. I wish I had this book when I was Oliver's age."Sean Carroll, New York Times best-selling author of The Biggest Ideas in the Universe
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"Here is Jorge Cham with his usual unique mixture of lightness, brio and scientific accuracy. Oliver’s Great Big Universe is a joy to read."Carlo Rovelli, theoretical physicist and author of the international bestseller Seven Brief Lessons
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"Funny and heartwarming! This book will get the entire family laughing and learning together.”Kazu Kibuishi, creator of the New York Times bestselling Amulet graphic novel series
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"Oliver's Great Big Universe will have you laughing out loud and spouting physics facts!"Zach and Kelly Weinersmith, authors of the New York Times bestseller Soonish: Ten Emerging Technolog
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***STARRED REVIEW***
"A stellar confluence of comic episodes and cosmic information. In addition to brilliantly integrated comic moments —surprising plot twists add narrative pizzazz to a serious raft of data about the universe. An irresistibly entertaining introduction to astrophysics."
—Kirkus
"In a successful effort to make his introduction to our physical universe not only painless but funny, Cham embeds it in the ruminations and misadventures of a budding astrophysicist... [A] STEM-centric tale...with an engaging human cast."
—Booklist
