About the book

Discover the incredible story of the search for life on Mars, told from the unique perspective of Curiosity, the Mars Rover sent to explore the red planet. Markus Motum's stylish illustrations and diagrams reveal how a robot travelled 350,000,000 miles to explore a planet where no human has ever been. 

What did the judges think?

Judge Nicola Davies, who has had books shortlisted for the Prize twice before, said: “For me, the stand out title was Curiosity: The story of a Mars rover. This showed an originality of approach in its narrative perspective, its illustration and design. This is a book that can work across age groups, accessible to younger children but providing older children, and adults, with a satisfying level of information. All too often picture books are thought to be the territory solely of the under 8’s, but this isn’t the case. They are a unique art form that can be used to deliver some of the most complex and sophisticated information – as Curiosity shows.”

About the author

Markus Motum is an illustration graduate based in the UK. His work uses a mix of traditional and digital media to create a range of projects. Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover is his first book for children.

Markus Motum
Markus Motum