Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life

by Molly Bang, Penny Chisholm, Molly Bang (Illustrator)

Overview

Three-time Caldecott Honor artist Molly Bang and award-winning scientist Penny Chisholm celebrate the wonder of energy.

Living Sunlight shows children, teachers, and parents the remarkable magic of what makes us human.This informative yet dramatic book will mesmerize readers and help further a child's understanding of the energy we share with all living things in nature. We are all dancing sunlight. The book is co-authored by award-winning M.I.T. professor Penny Chisholm, a leading expert on ocean science. A perfect addition to any library!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545044226
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/01/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	127,653
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Penny Chisholm is a professor at M.I.T., where she has been teaching Ecology for more than thirty-five years. Her long list of prestigious awards includes the National Medal of Science, awarded at the White House in 2013.
Molly Bang has written and illustrated more than twenty books for young readers, including When Sophie Gets Angry — Really, Really Angry... ; Ten, Nine, Eight; and The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher, each of which were Caldecott Honor books. Bang divides her time between Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Northern California.

Editorial Reviews

*"An outstanding book to read and absorb." — Booklist, starred review"A magnificent celebration of life." — Natural History Magazine

From the Publisher

Gr 1-4

In this sequel to My Light (Scholastic, 2004), the focus is photosynthesis and its connection to all living things. The sun continues to be the "star" of the show, narrating the lyrical text. The verse is a mix of fun and fact, explaining that "My light becomes the energy/for all life on Earth." Although the text goes on to connect the sun's energy to plants and then to animals and people, the explanations are quite a leap for the intended audience. Beautiful illustrations light up the pages and swirl across the spreads. Bright yellow outlines large green leaves, landscapes, and animals, radiating against the dark electric blue sky. Magnified close-ups of plant cells offer visual explanations of the process. However, they are more decorative than informative. Fans of the earlier work will find this book equally satisfying. Overall, a worthy general purchase.-Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

School Library Journal

Mirroring the format of Bang's more energy-focused My Light (2006), this one is in part dedicated to Ben, "who felt it was more important that the sun's energy fuels life than that it can change into electricity." Here, too, the sun speaks in a meditative first-person voice: "All living things- / including YOU- / pulse with my light / and keep it circling / round and round on Earth." Elsewhere, the style and cadence evoke an awestruck child on the playground, excitedly sharing newfound knowledge: "Without plants, / you would have no oxygen. / Without plants, / you would have no food. / Without plants, / you could not live. / Without plants, / there would be no life on Earth." Sunlight is represented visually throughout by tiny yellow dots that travel in and out of Earth's lush blue and green landscapes, often to gorgeous effect. Photosynthesis is thrilling to ponder, and Bang and Chisholm shout their enthusiasm for the process-and for the interconnectedness of all living things-from the (probably solar-paneled) rooftops. (notes) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews