Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life
-- School Library Journal, 11/5/2009
From the November issue
Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life. DVD. 14 min. with tchr’s. guide. Nutmeg Media (nutmegmedia.com). 2009. ISBN 1-933938-63-3. $49.95.
K-Gr 3–In this stunning picture book by Caldecott Honor artist Molly Bang and biologist Penny Chisholm (Blue Sky Press, 2009), the sun explains how it brings energy to all living things on Earth. “Listen to me,” the sun tells the child and then describes how plants convert the sun’s energy to sugar and expel oxygen, which is consumed by people and other living creatures. The process of photosynthesis is broken down into understandable chunks of information, but it is not oversimplified. The importance of the sun from warming the land to creating winds is explained. In the end, the youngster is told that all living things on Earth could not be sustained without the energy that originates from the sun. Molly Bang’s vibrant illustrations glow with sunlight, as dots of solar energy shimmer and radiate across the pages. Plants and animals are seen larger than life, reaching skyward from planet Earth as it sails through space. The camera focuses on specific sections of the artwork and also pans across double-page spreads. The lyrical text is expressively and enthusiastically read, while soft music suits the tempo of the book. In a Conversation with the Authors, they discuss the process of writing the book, some of their favorite pages, and a companion book that is already in the works. While intended for primary grade audiences, this excellent explanation of solar energy and photosynthesis would also be useful in science classes for older elementary school students.–MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann Elementary School, Binghamton, NY
