Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp
#1 in Epic Ellisons Series
What’s inside...
From Edgar Award nominee and WNDB cofounder Lamar Giles, this middle grade adventure stars the Epic Ellison twins as they race to solve the mystery of Cosmos Camp for young geniuses in a stand-alone companion to the Legendary Alston Boys series. School’s out, and Wiki and Leen Ellison are facing a new challenge… their first summer apart! Genius inventor Leen has been accepted to Petey Thunkle’s world-famous summer training program for STEM prodigies with their eyes on the stars. Meanwhile, Wiki is looking forward to her first summer on her own, running the family corn stand and outclassing Otto and Sheed Alston. But the night before Leen’s departure, the twins find out that Wiki has also been accepted into the same camp (even though she didn’t apply). And they are... not thrilled. This summer was never supposed to be a Twin Thing! The situation soon goes from bad to worse—because the Ellisons haven’t been invited just to participate in the program. They’re there to solve a mystery. Someone (or something) has been tampering with the company’s upcoming big-deal rocket launch. Now, the sisters are undercover, dealing with hyper-competitive campers by day and trying to stop the mysterious saboteur by night. All is not as it seems at PeteyTech. There are bigger, badder forces at play than the girls could’ve imagined. And if Wiki and Leen don’t get their act together fast, their first epic adventure away from Logan County could end up an epic fail... for the entire world. An Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee!
Discussion points
What challenges did the characters in 'Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp' face, and how did they work together to overcome them?
How do you think exploring space would feel like, based on the adventures at Cosmos Camp?
Which character in the book did you relate to the most, and why?
What did you learn about friendship and teamwork from the story?
If you could create a new gadget for the Cosmos Camp, what would it be and how would it help the explorers?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves as a part of the Cosmos Camp, asking what role they would choose and why.
Discuss the importance of teamwork as depicted in the book, relating it to your child’s everyday experiences in school or during play.
Ask your child to draw a scene or a gadget from the book, then describe its function and importance to the story.
Explore the concept of outer space together, using child-friendly documentaries or books, to deepen the context of the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: In 'Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp,' siblings work together to solve puzzles and challenges presented during their space camp adventure, demonstrating the importance of collaboration.
Real-World Application: Children learn to work cooperatively in group settings such as school projects or sports teams, emphasizing the value of diverse ideas and joint effort.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Learning
Explanation: The characters' exploration of space camp encapsulates the thrill of learning new things, from astronomy to physics, sparking curiosity.
Real-World Application: Inspires children to explore educational subjects outside the classroom and encourages lifelong learning and inquisitiveness.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving Skills
Explanation: Throughout the story, the characters encounter various challenges that they must think critically and creatively to overcome.
Real-World Application: This equips children with the ability to think critically and solve problems in everyday situations, from resolving conflicts with peers to overcoming obstacles in learning.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: As the young adventurers face setbacks at the camp, they learn the importance of persistence and resilience in achieving their goals.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of perseverance in the face of difficulties, whether in academic, social, or personal endeavors.