Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet

Cosmic Collisions

by Marc J. Kuchner, Matt Schu (Illustrator)

What happens when two massive hunks of hurtling space debris slam into each other? Welcome to round one in the Cosmic Collisions series—an exciting children’s debut from an expert astrophysicist.

There’s a comet speeding in from the outer solar system, and it’s about to slam into an asteroid. Who will be left standing after this interplanetary smackdown? The pockmarked asteroid, a veteran fighter who’s already seen some action? Or the dazzling comet, with its incredible velocity and a tail that stretches millions of miles? Kicking off a dynamic series on cosmic collisions, Asteroid vs. Comet starts by comparing the two opponents, then offers hints and context to encourage readers to use real science to form a hypothesis. Action-packed full-color illustrations with a graphic, comic-book feel will attract reluctant readers and kids who love smash-and-crash along with budding scientists. Curious readers can find back matter addressing the question of fact versus fiction, how to become a citizen scientist, and comets and asteroids in the news.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2024

About the author

Friendly neighborhood astrophysicist and book lover here.

I earned a Ph.D. in astronomy in 2001 from Caltech. I’ve worked as an astrophysicist for Harvard, Princeton and NASA. Then, a few years later, younger scientists started asking me to mentor them. But I didn’t know how. So I collected all the advice I could and turned it into my first book: Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine In Tough Times (Island Press 2011).

Now I have two fascinating children, so I write books for them–and any other children that might wander by. My first experiment with kidlit is the new Cosmic Collisions series (MIT Kids). These books challenge you to hypothesize what will happen when two astronomical objects slam together. Read on, watch the collision unfold, and see if you guessed right!

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nonfiction picture book about asteroids and comets that is set up as an interplanetary smackdown between the two. This book provides a lot of information using boxing jargon while comparing and contrasting the two bodies. Readers are presented enough information so by the end they are able to figure out which body would survive the collision. Good illustrations and the entertaining format will make this a popular title with young astronomy enthusiasts.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Edelweiss Plus

Can we live on Mars? Is Pluto a planet? Star Wars vs. Star Trek? There's no shortage of geeky, space related questions that tweens readers can ponder, and Asteroid vs. Comet offers new opportunities for scientific thinking. In order to really calculate things properly, we first meet both an asteroid, in the Asteroid Belt, and a comet, in the Oort Cloud. We find out that while asteroids are hot, comets are cold, and learn the speeds, weights, and composition of the competing bodies. The two rarely collide, but this is a fun speculation.

This is not quite a comic book (although it is a comet book!), but a nicely sized nonfiction book with lots of illustrations. Each topic is approached with a page from both the asteroid and the comet point of view, and the text is very readable. Words and ideas are nicely explained, and I was able to understand the scientific concepts. There is definitely an air of suspense in this, which is hard to create in a science related nonfiction book, and I won't ruing the ending and tell you who survived the hypothetical collision!

While some young readers love nonfiction and don't want to read anything else, it can be a challenge to get some readers to pick up books with facts. This is a perfect length, and is highly engaging. The pictures help, and I can see this being a book that I can recommend to my students who need to include some science themed nonfiction books in the mix, even if they aren't wanting to pick them up.

I love when young readers have specific interests, and space is a topic that frequently sparks readers to search for information. Regas' 1,000 Facts About Space Aldrin and Dyson's Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet, Lowery's Everything Awesome About Space and Other Galactic Facts!, McAnulty's Where Are the Aliens, and Drimmer's Can't Get Enough Space Stuff.

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The image of a cosmic collision involving Earth and an asteroid is mind boggling and terrifying. In this book Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet, the author describes the opponents - Asteroid vs. Comet - and the lead up to their impending battle or collision. The reader will learn what an asteroid is, it's orbit, it's composition, and it's possible impact on Earth. Information about a Comet is also provided about the Comet's composition, speed, orbit, and the impact it's collision would have on whatever it collided.

The reader is given information and then asked to determine what the outcome of an Asteroid vs. Comet collision would be. It might surprise the reader to learn the real outcome.

This is another interesting science read from MIT Kids Press and one that will stretch the imagination and comprehension of young readers.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Marc J. Kuchner feels like the emcee of a game show, starting off with the question of which might be left standing "in this incredible planetary smackdown"? It's such a fun idea, makes one want to read fast, though the explanations of what each is, how they change as they move through space, and react with collisions are thorough and wonderfully illustrated by Matt Schu. How much each weighs, or can weigh, how they change temperatures, all about an "Oort Cloud", and the variations of what each one is like are all explained simply and illustrated. In a study of these two fascinating space objects, this will be the book to show so much about them and to inspire more and more questions for further research. It's terrific!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

[Laurie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun way to learn about space! With a similar setup as the wildly popular "Who Would Win" series, this book pits an imaginary comet up against a fictional asteroid and takes readers along for the theoretical matchup. While trying to make a guess about which one will win, readers learn all kinds of facts about space, the people who study it and how they do it, and even how they can contribute to the research themselves as citizen scientists! Perfect for those kids who love all things space AND for the kids who love comic books, graphic novels, and/or sports. This STEM title is sure to hook young readers and incite further curiosity.

[Ann Staats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open up this book to read about a match-up between an asteroid and a comet. With an exciting narrative and some very cool science, Kuchner shares what could make the difference in the contest. Will it be the cold of an asteroid or the hot of a comet as it flies near the sun? Maybe it’s speed or size that will prove to be the winning factor. Kuchner outlines a fun scenario—an asteroid and a comet jockeying for success in a competition of cosmic proportions—while revealing astounding science facts about this space phenomena. With Schu’s spot-on illustrations, this book is a must-have for kids to learn about space. Highly recommend!

[Katie Furze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a highly engaging STEM title with layered text and vibrant illustrations! The humorous main narrative reads like the commentary of a sporting event in which an asteroid and a comet are competing – who will win? Fascinating fact boxes further explain tricky astronomy concepts. Young readers will learn all about the characteristics and formation of asteroids and comets, the role of citizen science, the asteroid belt, Oort clouds and more! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it for young readers, schools, and libraries.

[Alison Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful match-up between two out-of-this-world contenders, Asteroid Vs. Comet is a fun introduction to some of the fast-moving objects zipping around in space. Cleverly introduces lesser-known space objects in a fun, super kid-accessible way. The book breaks down the match-up between these interplanetary visitors, looking at which one wins in a variety of categories (temperature, speed, weight), before they collide and we get to see the aftermath. Beautiful illustrations heighten tension throughout. Great read!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I read a digital advance copy courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss
Set up like a match between two mighty athletes, this book explores the differences between comets and asteroids and what can happen when they collide. The scientific facts are explained in a way that makes it easy to understand and visualize the players and their movements. Kuchner has a way with words that makes this a very engaging read.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a well written, exciting book! The author and illustrator combine forces to explore who will “defeat” whom in a cosmic smack down! Err, cosmic collision. In the process, kids find all sorts of info out such as there are citizen scientists and the similarities and differences between asteroids and comets! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it for most school libraries, up to middle/junior high schools and public libraries.

[Lisa Varchol Varchol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and unique way to learn about the differences between asteroids and comets! The kid-friendly language makes the scientific explanations clear and memorable (like the description of a comet as "a cow-burp popsicle"), and the author's exuberance about astronomy leaps from the page. The art has a comic-book style that will appeal both to picture book readers and kids who love graphic novels. I highly recommend for every home, school, and library!

[Helen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Distant space objects have never been so engaging! This book does a marvelous job of bringing excitement and fun into science storytelling. The head-to-head premise will keep readers guessing as they learn all about the similarities and differences between comets and asteroids. Bonus: they'll also hear about how astronomers and citizen scientists observe celestial objects and events. A great pick for budding astronomers and space-loving kids!

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging, comprehensive read that will entertain and fascinate children. Top notch writing with incredible visuals. I am a huge fan of Mit Kids Press. They create the best factual yet easy to understand non-fiction books for children. A must have for any child even remotely interested in anything space related.

[Grab · Rating 3 out of 5]

the illustrations were fun and engaging. The information was great but dense, so when paired with the illustrations, it felt like maybe there was some mudiness in what age group the book was intended for. Might be best applied when paired with a few observational science projects that could help break the info into more manageable chunks.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, colorful graphic-style art combined with punchy text. Any science-loving kid will love this!

[Tracey Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging nonfiction for kids ages 5-12 and beyond.