As a mother of two, I’ve read a lot of children’s books. While there are some so good that even parents don’t mind reading them again and again, it’s also very easy for them to miss the mark and end up “accidentally” hidden behind other books. They’ve not only got to have an exciting story, but also easy wording, a rhythmic pace, flowing language and captivating pictures.
Great non-fiction kids’ books are especially hard to find as they need to add in yet another ingredient: facts. As a result, they can often struggle to portray educational topics in an accessible and engaging way without being boring. So when I saw the ever impressive Jess Wade had published her second children’s book about physics, Light: the Extraordinary Energy That Illuminates Our World, I was intrigued.
Wade is a woman of many talents. She’s an accomplished physicist at Imperial College London, a trailblazing advocate for equality in science, and an enthusiastic science communicator. Her first book, Nano: the Spectacular Science of the Very (Very) Small, won the 2022 UK Literary Association (UKLA) Book Award for information books (3–14+ years).
And now, with the help of beautiful illustrations by Argentinian artist Ana Sanfelippo, Wade has created a clear, concise explanation of light, how it behaves and how we use it. The book starts by describing where light comes from and why we need it, and goes on to more complex topics like reflection, scattering and dispersion, the electromagnetic spectrum, and technologies that use light.
The language is clear, the sentences are simple, and there is a flow to the narrative that makes up for the lack of a story. Wade makes the science relatable for children by bringing in real-world examples – such as how your shadow changes length during the day, and how apples reflect red light so look red. And throughout, Sanfelippo’s gorgeous illustrations fill the pages with colourful images of a girl and her dog exploring the concepts discussed, keeping the content bright and cheerful.
Cats and secrets
Now obviously I am not the target audience for Light. So, as my own children are too young (the age range listed is 7–12 years), I asked my eight-year old-niece, Katie, to take a look.
Instantly, Katie loved the illustrations, which helped keep her engaged with the content as she read – her favourite was one of a cat using a desk lamp to create a shadow. She was intrigued by how fast light is – “you’d have to run seven and a half times around Planet Earth in a single second” – and liked being “let in on a secret” when Wade explains that white light actually contains a rainbow.
But as the book went on, she found some bits confusing, like the section on the electromagnetic spectrum. “It’s definitely a book someone Katie’s age should read with a grown up, and maybe in two sittings, because it’s very information heavy (in a good way),” said her mum, Nicci. Indeed, there are a couple of page spreads that stand out as being particularly busy and wordy, and these dense parts somewhat interrupt the book’s flow. “But overall, she found the topic very interesting, and it provoked a lot of questions,” Nicci continued. “I enjoyed sharing it with her!”
I think it’s safe to say that Wade can add another success to her list of many accomplishments. Light is beautiful and educational, and personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to give it as gift or keep it at the front of the bookshelf.
- 2025 Walker Books 32pp £12.99hb
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