The Science of How…Light

Light is something we take for granted, especially those of us who live in places where there is easy access to light and electricity. It’s ubiquitous and something young readers may not even think about. Susan Hughes and Ellen Rooney have paired up once again for another book in The Science of How series titled Lights Day and Night: The Science of How Light Works to teach young readers all about light!

Just like in Sounds All Around, Susan Hughes takes readers through a story about light, starting and ending in the dark of night. She describes different kinds of light both natural and artificial and digs into the ways we use light to go about our day to day in simple, easy to understand language. She provides glimpses of the ways we all use light to grow and change, touching on the water cycle, photosynthesis, electricity, refraction and reflection and so much more. Susan Hughes sparks curiosity in the readers with her brief descriptions. If readers are intrigued by some of the things they read they can do further exploration either on their own or with an adult. I especially appreciated how she also acknowledged people who use light as a form of communication and those who are blind and cannot see light. There is a specific line stating, “...sighted people can use light…” acknowledging there are people in the world for whom light does not help.

The illustrations by Ellen Rooney are warm and inviting like basking in a sunbeam. Using collage to create some vast landscapes and memorable vignettes throughout. Readers will be drawn into the story and the information.

At the end of the story, Susan Hughes includes instructions to create your own shadow puppet theatre at home so readers can continue their exploration of light hands on. Also, like any great non-fiction book, there is a comprehensive glossary at the end to further explain many of the scientific terms used throughout the story.