Rover and Speck: Splash Down! - by Jonathan Roth (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Two lovable mismatched rovers are back for another adventure, this time on an oceanic planet! Organized, careful Rover and impulsive, excitable Speck are ready to set off on their next dangerous, hazardous, mysterious mission: a trip to Unexplored Planet K2-18b. Adventure is underway as they splash down onto the watery surface of this world and get to know the locals. Before long, the two rovers find themselves on a new mission: to help two Spikey-Spikes recover their missing brother from inside the belly of the terrifying Blubber Beast! Will Rover and Speck be able to outwit the Beast and save their new friend? Or will they get -- gulp -- swallowed up too? Jonathan Roth's hugely appealing graphic novel combines classic comic-style art with a gripping plot, loads of extra-silly laughs, and two endearing characters to root for. It's also a great introduction to real rovers and robots, and the entertaining science sidebars sprinkled throughout the story give readers a chance to learn about marine biology, ocean creatures, and more. Backmatter includes a drawing lesson ready-made for classrooms and a fun spot-the-differences activity. This winning combination of accessible STEM content, perfectly kid-friendly humor and loads of adventure is sure to satisfy armchair astronauts everywhere"--

Book Synopsis

Everyone's favorite space rovers take on a dangerous rescue operation - inside the belly of the Beast! - in this hilarious title in the early graphic novel series.

Interplanetary space explorers Rover and Speck have set out on a dangerous mission deep into the mysterious unknown: a visit to Unexplored Planet K2-18b. Though all seems calm to Rover when they first splash down on the watery surface, they soon find themselves in the mouth of a gigantic blubber beast! With a little ingenuity (by Rover) and some furious paddling (by Speck) they manage to escape unharmed. But when the pair meet two local spikey-spikes whose brother was swallowed by the Beast, Rover knows the brother's only hope is for the two brave explorers to go back inside the Beast to find him. Do Rover and Speck have what it takes to rescue the spikey-spike? Or will they - gulp - get swallowed, too?

Jonathan Roth's series about two space rovers with wildly different personalities hits all the right notes for early graphic novel fans, with loads of action and humor and the funniest space rover buddy team (okay, maybe the only one) ever written. The drama is interspersed with just enough silliness to keep readers enthralled. Brightly colored traditional comic art adds to the book's appeal. As a bonus, illustrated science fact boxes containing fun and accessible background information about marine biology, underwater creatures and other relevant science topics (and jokes!) appear throughout the story. The book ends with an engaging interactive art lesson from Rover and Speck on how to draw waves.

Review Quotes

Accessible, humorous, and full of heart, this series is an excellent addition to library collections for middle grade readers.--Children's Literature

The series is full of giggles, but it's also whip-smart in its language about exoplanets and gyroscopic stabilizers, and it brilliantly incorporates fun science facts ... As a quick and entertaining science read for early graphic novel lovers, it is speck-tacular.--Booklist

Libraries needing early reader comics will surely want to add this to their collection.--School Library Journal (Praise for Rover and Speck: This Planet Rocks!)

The silliness of the plot belies the massive and impressive bulk of advanced scientific facts relayed within ... space-loving readers will feel right at home ...--Booklist (Praise for Rover and Speck: This Planet Rocks!)

About the Author

Author-illustrator Jonathan Roth has been fascinated with robotic space missions since the Viking lander sent back the first images from the surface of Mars. Jonathan, who teaches elementary art, lives in Rockville, Maryland, with his wife and two kitties, in a house on a rocky planet orbiting a fiery star in a barred spiral galaxy. He is also the author of the Beep and Bob series.