DAY LIGHT, NIGHT LIGHT
Where Light Comes From
by Franklyn M. Branley & illustrated by Stacey Schuett
For this Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science entry, originally published in 1975, Schuett brings an artistic spirit to Branley's facts about the origins of light: A child perched in a treehouse discovers light from a luminous jar of fireflies; candles on a birthday cake illustrate the concept of light coming from sources that are hot. Within a text that is somewhat repetitive, Branley offers elementary explanation of properties of light: reflective light, speed of light, and what happens inside an electric light bulb. Sunlight, candlelight, flashlight, campfire, lanterns, and stars are discussed. The mention of simple experiments, e.g., placing a white plate in a dark room, provides hands-on opportunities for very young learners. A snug atmosphere and palette are reminiscent of some scenes in Schuett's own Somewhere in the World Right Now (1996, not reviewed). (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-8)