Glow: Animals with Their Own Night-Lights

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 12, 2016

Review

A simple but fascinating non-fiction picture book on the topic of bioluminscence, this pairs vivid photography of the animals (and fungi) discussed with concise, easily understandable text about each image, with a narrative thread running throughout that tells a story tying it all together. Presented entirely on a black background, the light given off by the subject of each photo is allowed to take center stage, and kids with an interest in the natural world will want to study some of these up close, even when they are a bit creepy in appearance, like the deep-sea dwelling dragonfish. The author explains within the body of the story that most bioluminescent organisms are found in the ocean, and an afterword points out that due to their habitat, photographs of these animals can be difficult to take, so some may not be as clear as more traditional photos. However, this does not detract from the overall dramatic effect and older preschool and younger grade school science-minded kids will be rapt. A bibliography and further information on each organism is included in the back matter.

Overall Book Score: very good