SPARKY'S ELECTRIFYING TALE

With the assistance of a magical critter, siblings discuss the harmful impact of gasoline in London and Metz’s picture book.

When Rory playfully places his hamster, Sparky, in a car’s tailpipe, his sister, Tina, warns, “The tailpipe is full of black soot and bad air….It hurts lungs and brains.” She describes how gas “starts as oil from dead plants and dinosaurs, squished in the soil.” Tina notes, inaccurately, that automobiles use "way too much carbon to power our rides.” She does, however, rightly explain that CO2 “traps the sun’s heat,” contributing to the planet’s warming. The dark-haired kids discuss alternative forms of transportation, like bicycles. After Rory wonders how to travel long distances without resorting to a gas guzzler, “a lightning bolt FLASHED blinding light…a big sudden jolt came a thunderclap: BOOM!” The siblings are shocked to find Sparky perched on a new electric car! Tina explains that it uses electricity from the wind and the sun, and Dad joyfully takes the car for a spin. Through jaunty rhymes (“Refineries boil oil to make gasoline, which trucks take to gas stations—very unclean!” etc.), the work accessibly demonstrates how fossil fuels contribute to climate change and pollution. They also depict how electric cars operate, using simple explanations ideal for young readers. Fortuna’s atmospheric illustrations include details like swirls, lightning bolts, and sparkles. The colors used cleverly correspond with the mood of the scenes. For example, the gloomy gas station features muted hues, and cheerful sights incorporate bright tones.

This visually layered, informative tale uses a whimsical storyline to inspire eco-awareness.