"The firefly and the stars are part of nature.
The light they make is natural light.
The Sun - which is
also a star - makes
natural light, too.
And there are other kinds of
natural light.
Lightning flashes across the sky.
A forest fire.
A volcano.
The northern lights."
Where would we be without light? In this well-researched and readily accessible second book in the Science of How series, a young girl and her cat learn about the varied sources that provide light in our world.
Outside on a summer night, a cloudy sky blocks the light from both moon and stars. The girl and her feline companion are delighted to see a firefly bring light to the darkness. In the distance, readers can see a warm glow from the windows of a summer cabin, and a string of lantern-shaped lights hanging outside the door. The sky clears. Using her telescope helps her focus on the moon and the many stars that now light the night sky. Such beauty to be found in nature! A text box provides a description for a star.
Each turn of the page offers further details about the light that we take for granted. Whether it's natural or artificial, light is needed to enhance our many activities. Susan Hughes tells readers about the sun and its importance to all life.
"Without any sunlight, Earth would
be dark and covered in ice. There
wouldn't be any life here at all."
When no natural light is accessible, humans create their own their own light. Creating a list of how we use artificial light is a worthy task. Ms. Hughes also explains the differences between the way humans and animals see light, and shares ideas to discover much more about the way light works.
From the fireflies providing light in the darkness of an early summer night to fireworks over the lake as summer moves forward, there is much a reader learns by sharing this highly entertaining and informative picture book. Instructions for making a shadow puppet show, and a list of words to know are welcome.
Thanks for the kind words about our book, Sal!
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