To view prices and purchase online, please login or create an account now.



The Universe Ate My Homework

Hardback

Main Details

Title The Universe Ate My Homework
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Zeltser David
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:32
Dimensions(mm): Height 288,Width 243
ISBN/Barcode 9781512417982
Audience
Children / Juvenile
Illustrations Illustrations, color

Publishing Details

Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda
Publication Date 1 August 2018
Publication Country United States

Description

Abby hates doing homework. In fact, she'll do just about anything to get out of it. So when she discovers an amazing scientific recipe for creating a parallel universe where she'll never have to do homework again, she's ready to jump right in. There's just one small wrinkle--she might not be able to find a way back. Inspired by mind-bending modern physics, David Zeltser and Ayesha L. Rubio spin the tale of a hilarious girl in a truly out-of-this-world adventure.

Author Biography

David Zeltser is the author of the Lug series, Ninja Baby, Stinker, and The Universe Ate My Homework. He studied physics at Harvard and was fortunate to co-author a paper with the world renowned physicist Howard Georgi. Now David writes children's books, graphic novels, and screenplays and lives with his family and many barking sea lions in Santa Cruz, California. Follow him on Twitter (@davidzeltser) and at www.davidzeltser.com. Ayesha L. Rubio was born in Madrid, Spain, in February. She loved to draw, but unfortunately for her family, any surface was an empty canvas for her. Her grandfather taught her to draw on paper, instead of furniture or walls. Nowadays, she lives in London and works as an author and illustrator and occasional animator.

Reviews

A girl who hates homework more than anything else in this universe creates an alternative one, with a few hints from her physicist dad. Unable to escape her parents' persistent reminders to get to work (they obviously know her well), Abby sneaks into her father's study, follows his directions for creating a mini black hole ('Step 1. Choose anything you want to get rid of. Step 2. Squeeze it really, really hard'), and 'POP!' turns her homework paper into a singularity. With the addition of some energy created by jumping up and down, the singularity becomes a baby universe complete with tiny stars and gas clouds. Abby almost leaps in, but when her understandably impressed dad admits that he wouldn't know how to get her back, she decides to stay and instead joins both parents (who are now apparently willing to cut her some slack) in the yard for cuddles and stargazing. For budding astrophysicists, Zeltser tucks in simple descriptions of what black holes are and how they form, and Rubio ups the ante considerably with relevant equations from Hawking and Einstein on the study chalkboard. Topped by a wild nebula of red hair, Abby makes a moderately big bang all on her own (she and her parents are white), and chuckles will coalesce around her written explanation of what happened to her homework at the end, which is capped with her teacher's inexplicably skeptical response. Even readers who don't share Abby's aversion to homework will be sucked in.--Kirkus Reviews -- "Journal" (4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM) Abby dislikes doing homework more than anything. So when her father tells her about black holes and 'baby universes, ' she decides to make one herself. After a thorough but kid-friendly explanation of black holes, Abby realizes that maybe if she squeezes her homework hard enough, she can create a black hole, too. She then turns the black hole into a 'baby universe, ' but decides to stay with her family, even though the new universe would have no homework. The piece overall is a nice blend of science and sweetness that will both educate and entertain. The ending page of Abby's explanation for her missing homework is a nice touch. Artwork is equally friendly, with bright and vibrant spreads that will inspire young minds to imagine and create their own inventions. VERDICT A lively and interesting STEM-focused addition.--School Library Journal -- "Journal" (7/26/2018 12:00:00 AM) Don't try this at home, just bring it home. The Universe Ate My Homework is totally safe (and delightful) to read.--Robert Krulwich, NPR science journalist and co-host of Radiolab -- "Other Print" (3/19/2018 12:00:00 AM)