Starred Review Light is everywhere, surrounding us, influencing the patterns of our lives, defining what we can and cannot see. But what is light, exactly? And how does it actually work? This oversize picture book explains the basic properties of light (incandescence, radiation, wavelengths, refraction, the color spectrum, iridescence, etc.) in precise, straightforward language accompanied by crisp, meticulously rendered full-color photographs. Most science books offer illustrations, but few manage to consistently feature such precision when capturing the exact moment when energy becomes light, or employ such eloquence in explaining concepts through select, well-chosen words and pictures. Beginning with simple examples of light, such as a wooden match or a candle, the text then employs two-page spreads to address increasingly sophisticated phenomena, eventually getting to atmospheric light, nuclear fusion, and the earth's ultimate source of light e sun. There are no source notes or bibliography, but concluding back matter offers additional information about both content and the processes used in creating the images. Wick is well known as the illustrator of the I Spy and the Can You See What I See? series, and this current offering is a worthy companion to his award-winning A Drop of Water (1997). Public and elementary- and middle-school libraries should include both of these titles as cornerstone components of STEM collections.

An exploration of the workings and gifts of light.Matter can be solid, liquid, or gas—but what about light? "What is it made of? How does it fit alongside everything else in the world?" Light is energy, and Wick's photographs—huge, glossy, and crystal clear—glow with it. On the first spread, a shaft of light, a beaker of water, and some rocks appear almost mystical. Next, a close-up of a candle with its wick aflame is downright hypnotic; across from it, a sequence of small photos show a match striking a rock and flaring up. Later, another progression shows three incandescent sources—candle, bulb, sun—each in turn lighting a teacup-saucer-spoon arrangement that never varies in placement, effectively demonstrating how lighting alters color. The text examines incandescence, iridescence, refraction, the relationship between light waves and colors, pigments, magnification, heat, fire, and the sun—always clearly and in concert with spellbinding photographs. The radiant illustrations show color spectrums, light shining through and across various objects, almost-magic tricks of light, and demonstrations of light waves that use water as a visible symbol. Scrupulously, Wick acknowledges that photographs in books "cannot fully capture the purity and intensity of color that's observed directly by the human eye"—but these will enrapture even readers too young to fully comprehend the science. A meticulous, adult-directed author's note elaborating on the principles covered will help caregivers answer curious children's further questions.A love story to light and color, both educational and visually stunning. (Informational picture book. 6-12)

Wick explores the concepts of light and color in a sophisticated yet comprehensible format. The gorgeous images of phenomena, in carefully staged everyday contexts, illustrate ideas that span degrees of difficulty, from the easy-to-observe refraction and iridescence to the more complex concepts of light waves and atomic spectra. The interplay between images and explanations encourages readers to wonder and learn. Back matter provides further information.

An exploration of the workings and gifts of light.Matter can be solid, liquid, or gas—but what about light? "What is it made of? How does it fit alongside everything else in the world?" Light is energy, and Wick's photographs—huge, glossy, and crystal clear—glow with it. On the first spread, a shaft of light, a beaker of water, and some rocks appear almost mystical. Next, a close-up of a candle with its wick aflame is downright hypnotic; across from it, a sequence of small photos show a match striking a rock and flaring up. Later, another progression shows three incandescent sources—candle, bulb, sun—each in turn lighting a teacup-saucer-spoon arrangement that never varies in placement, effectively demonstrating how lighting alters color. The text examines incandescence, iridescence, refraction, the relationship between light waves and colors, pigments, magnification, heat, fire, and the sun—always clearly and in concert with spellbinding photographs. The radiant illustrations show color spectrums, light shining through and across various objects, almost-magic tricks of light, and demonstrations of light waves that use water as a visible symbol. Scrupulously, Wick acknowledges that photographs in books "cannot fully capture the purity and intensity of color that's observed directly by the human eye"—but these will enrapture even readers too young to fully comprehend the science. A meticulous, adult-directed author's note elaborating on the principles covered will help caregivers answer curious children's further questions.A love story to light and color, both educational and visually stunning. (Informational picture book. 6-12)