The Volkis: An adventure in La Palma

Earth Sciences often receive less attention than other basic sciences, particularly among teenagers. Early childhood interests significantly shape future curiosity, and fostering enthusiasm for understanding our planet and environment during formative years is essential. To address this, developing engaging educational tools has become a pressing challenge.

Comics, graphic novels, and illustrated books have proven increasingly effective in introducing scientific concepts to children and teens. One such initiative is The Volkis, a series of illustrated books and creative educational resources designed to teach young audiences about volcanoes —their origin, dynamics, impacts, and benefits. Following the success of the first volume, The Volkis: A Volcanic Adventure (Schamuells et al. 2023, 2025), the series now continues with a new title: The Volkis: An Adventure in La Palma, inspired by the 2021 eruption of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain).

In this new adventure, the Volkis, a secret club of volcano enthusiasts, travel to La Palma to investigate the eruption and its aftermath. Along the way, readers are invited to explore the fascinating world of volcanoes through engaging illustrations, curious facts, and clear, accessible explanations. The book addresses where, how, and why volcanoes form, the precursory signals that may precede an eruption, volcanic hazards, and other fundamental aspects of volcanic activity. Focusing specifically on the La Palma 2021 eruption, the book highlights the scientific, environmental, and human dimensions of this recent volcanic event. It also contains a short description of eruptive history of the Canary Islands, the geological evolution of La Palma and its most recent eruptions, among many other interesting chapters.

Richly illustrated and designed to engage both readers and educators, the book combines storytelling with scientific knowledge. Supported by the interactive website https://descubrelosvolcanes.es, which offers videos, hands-on experiments, and printable activities, The Volkis aims to make science education entertaining, accessible, and interactive, fostering learning not only for children but also for the adults accompanying them.