When the Sky Glows

by Nell Cross Beckerman, David Litchfield (Illustrator)

Overview

Uncover the science behind the beautiful and vast array of natural events that make the sky glow all over the world in this enlightening nonfiction picture book.

Sunrises and lightning storms, rainbows and volcanoes, meteors and eclipses—these beautiful, awe-inspiring events that light up the sky might seem like magic. But there is a fascinating scientific explanation for each. Nell Cross Beckerman’s playful and illuminating text and David Litchfield’s vibrant illustrations are certain to capture the curiosity of young sky watchers everywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534450394
Publisher:	Beach Lane Books
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	225,204
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD920L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nell Cross Beckerman writes books for children to inspire wonder and celebrate adventure in nature. A former reality/documentary TV producer, she is the author of Caves, Down Under the Pier, When the Sky Glows, and more to come. Nell lives in Culver City, California, with her husband, two daughters, and their beloved pooch, Teddy. Visit her at NellCrossBeckerman.com for activities and events.

David Litchfield is the author-illustrator of The Bear and the Piano, which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in the illustration category and has sold in twenty-four countries. He is also the author-illustrator of Grandad’s Secret Giant and the illustrator of many books for young readers. He lives in England with his family. Visit his website at DavidLitchfieldIllustration.com.

Editorial Reviews

10/24/2022

Cross Beckerman (Down Under the Pier) and Litchfield (the Bear and the Piano books) visit varied locales in this picture book, investigating natural events during which “the sky glows”—from sunrises and sunsets to lightning and the aurora borealis. Each two-spread pairing starts with an economic visual of humans observing light (“when morning comes...”); with a turn of the page, the specific scenario is revealed in a full-bleed spread (“the sky glows”), accompanied by an approachable scientific explanation (about a sunrise’s warm hues, “When the sun is low on the horizon, the sunrays travel through longer distances, so colors with short wavelengths... are filtered out”). In another such vignette, a racially diverse group of water sports enthusiasts wait out a rainstorm under a roofed pier (“On a tropical misty island, when raindrops stop...”); the reveal shows a sunny sky filled with sparkling bands of color, and readers learn how rainbows are made, and why “the combination of wet weather and sunny skies” makes Hawaii “the Rainbow State.” The digital illustrations seem powered by their own energy source, with pages awash in radiant layers. It’s a glowing example of what happens when science and a sense of wonder converge. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Victoria Wells Arms, Wells Arms/HG Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Agency. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Beckerman introduces young readers to several natural phenomena and the scientific explanations behind them.... Litchfield's luminescent digital illustrations brim with color and setting details.... This versatile offering will be welcomed in story hours and primary science lessons both."

11/1/2022 - Booklist

2022-06-08
Around the world, natural events make the sky glow.

With a simple, repetitive verse and short explanatory descriptions, Beckerman presents occasions when the sky fills with light and color. The sun’s rising and setting, lightning storms, rainbows, solar eclipses, full moons, volcanic eruptions, mating fireflies, meteor showers, and auroras—all are opportunities to admire unusual displays in the natural world. Litchfield’s color-drenched illustrations glow as well. They show people appreciating nature in a variety of environments. This picture series begins and ends with a child in bed: a red-haired, light-skinned child rising with the sun in a rural setting; a dark-skinned boy waking in a city. Each topic is presented on a spread on which a few words on a block of color on the recto oppose a full-bleed image; this is followed by a luminous double-page scene illustrating the sky’s glow. An explanatory paragraph is relatively unobtrusive on the lower right—truly a two-level text. In one image, a brown-skinned photographer is almost hidden behind a camera; the page turn reveals that they are taking advantage of a golden sunset to photograph large African animals. On another spread, a light-skinned adult and child walk through a firefly-filled woods, and on another page, seated around a campfire, a tan-skinned family admires meteors showering from the sky (in unlikely numbers). The backmatter mentions light pollution and offers sources for further research. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A beautiful and informative title for a sense-of-wonder storytime. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews