Oliver's Great Big Universe by JORGE CHAM

Cosmos meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid in this new illustrated middle-grade fiction series that blends science with narrative

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, and the uncanny similarities between Mercury and cafeteria meatballs. (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 bestselling writer and the creator of PHD Comics Jorge Cham, Oliver’s Great Big Universe is a STEM-themed, diary-style series following an eleven-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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Jorge Cham is the bestselling, Emmy-nominated creator of . . . many things: from the hit PBS show Elinor Wonders Why to the hit nonfiction book for adults called We Have No Idea, along with the hit podcast Daniel & Jorge Explain the Universe and the popular webcomic PHD Comics. He is, without a doubt, an expert on explaining things about the world in interesting and fun ways. He obtained his PhD in robotics from Stanford University and was an instructor and research associate at Caltech from 2003 to 2005. He is originally from Panama.

Publication Date: September 26, 2023
Imprint: Amulet Books
Trim Size: 5 1⁄2 x 8
ISBN: 9781419764080
Page Count: 256
Illustrations: Black-and-white illustrations throughout
Rights: North America