LUMINOUS

Imagine being bioluminescent like the living creatures that make their own light in the dark of night and ocean depths.

With a two-level text and illustrations that almost seem to glow, Kuo presents the phenomenon of bioluminescence to younger readers and listeners through the imagined explorations of a parent and child who are tan-skinned and dark-haired and outlined in tan. On black (or, once, deep blue) spreads, shades of orange and blue define the living things on the pages. The parent and child explore the woods at night, travel by boat (even into a cave), and imagine swimming in the ocean. They discover fungi, glowworms, and a variety of sea creatures that use their abilities to make their own light for different purposes. The humans’ facial expressions reflect their pleasure. Page turns indicate each change of focus and lead readers further into the exploration. The simple, poetic text and striking images make for an effective group read-aloud. Most spreads also include more extensive information in a short expository paragraph in a smaller font. Here Kuo introduces and defines concepts such as energy, bioluminescence, camouflage, dinoflagellates, biodiversity, and even light pollution. Kuo concludes with a powerful exhortation to readers: “So always look, / really look, // when it’s dark out.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world.