Dr. Seuss meets Carl Sagan
…The whole thing is wrapped in wonderfully written rhyme and richly detailed images. Even as someone with their degree in astronomy and a bookshelf full of Astronomy texts, this is still one I would highly recommend and get as an gift for any astronomer, aspiring or professional.
-John Voisey (TheAngryAstronomer.com)
Comic book uses verse to describe the beginning of the universe
"BANG!" is for all ages and could be particularly helpful for educators looking for a snazzy way to teach this complicated subject.”
-Rachel Saslow (The Washington Post 4/27/10)
Comic BANG!
I like it! It describes the Big Bang model using simple terms, and goes through the timeline breezily, making it easy to read.…He’s a talented guy, and I hope he can do more stuff like this. I wonder how many kids he can inspire to get more interested in science?”
-Phil Plait (BadAstronomy.com)
Astronomy enthusiast creates beautifully illustrated and rhyming science book
The IYA2009 network is encouraged to utilise the book, and also help spread the word so that as many people as possible worldwide may enjoy it.”
-BEYOND International Year of Astronomy
Amazing Artwork
This is the sort of work that deserves a wider audience. James is at that point where he’s done everything right, and he just needs the right people to see what he can do. I would not be surprised at all to see James get a deal to make a whole series of similar books. I would love to see these in schools.
-Bobby Henderson (The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster)
Oh I love this
…illustrates scientific theories about the origin of the universe as Dr. Seuss might have done. Best of all, though it’s set in verse delivered by a cartoon Einstein, there’s no dumbing down of content.
-Dale McGowan (Parenting Beyond Belief)
Charming. Enjoyable. Intelligent.
I was very pleasantly surprised. “BANG!” is a beautiful grayscale comic, featuring intelligent rhymes and exceptional illustrations. The writing gives the impression of a wise and loving parent explaining the universe to a child, but I didn’t feel babied… The amount of science is perfect. Dunbar has glossed over some details (e.g. dark matter), but in hindsight it would detract from the flow of the story. And that’s the great thing about the book, it is a flowing story, partly because the history of the universe makes a good story and partly because the author has intelligently weaved it all together in a way that pulls you from one page to the next.
-Peter Harrison (RealityIsMyReligion.com)
If Dr. Seuss was a Nuclear Physicist…
…as soon as I saw it, I knew my kids would love it. And I was right.
…like a lot of kids of this generation — they’re not all that interested in books because books aren’t as exciting as the Internet. This book has been a step in the right direction for us. We’ve read it together as a family several times, and the clever rhymes and pictures drew the kids in.
-Carol Hanson (RationalMoms.com)
Bang! An Illustration About the History of Everything
This comic book is for all ages and very suitable for teaching kids about the Big Bang. I read it myself and while I still don’t get everything about protons, neutrons, etc. I know a lot more then before I read the comic book. You’ll have a better understanding of what the Big Bang really is, even though you learned it at school, most of us have forgotten what we learned.
-Darice De Cuba (ForeverGeek.com)
I have no experience, no budget and no marketing team, but have been hustling!
I contacted as many science, parenting and atheism blogs as I could find, and these are the ones that picked me up. The Washington Post contacted me as a result of the Bad Astronomy piece, but I haven’t yet had much success contacting other media, even though I think there are many magazines, newspapers, radio and tv shows that cover science education and outreach and which would be interested in BANG!
If you have any good ideas, leads or contacts I’d love to hear them!