WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: Ray: How Light Works by Emily Kate Moon

RAY: How Light Works

A Science Pals Book

written & illustrated by Emily Kate Moon

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025

ISBN: 978-0-593-85798-4

Source: Penguin Young Readers for review

Ages 6-10

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Science Pals series introduces the dazzling Ray, revealing how light works—from the creator of An Adventure through the Water Cycle and All About Air

Meet Ray. He's light! And he's been shining since time began. Wherever there's life on Earth, there's Ray, helping everything under the sun thrive. And Ray can really move—fast. Have you ever hurtled through space? Become a rainbow? Made food for plants? Ray has! With brilliant wit and sparkling one-liners, Ray introduces readers to a light show like no other. Filled with awe-inspiring artwork, funny asides, and a spotlight on kid-enticing facts, Ray invites us to bask in his warmth, as he illuminates our world.

REVIEW

Using the Science Pals, Drop, Puff, and Ray, the author introduces young readers to the concept of light and how it provides the energy that allows life to flourish on Earth. Moon introduces readers to light beginning on the front end papers where she explains what light is, what makes it, and different forms of light. The back end papers provide information about solar energy. In a fun, child-friendly way, the book shares with readers important information about light. Ray (a ray of light with a face) takes readers through basic facts about light once it has left the sun all the way to the depths of the sea and how light influences every aspect of life on earth. The explanations use child friendly language that help young readers understand the information. The illustrations are bright and eye-catching. The book design is appealing as well with text broken up into bite-sized pieces around the illustrations which makes the book less intimidating information-wise. Humorous comments from Ray are scattered among the illustrations adding humor to the story. The fictionalized elements help the information become easier to swallow. While the book is a picture book, I would recommend that it be used with 1st graders on up simply because of the amount of information. The book works well for individual readers as well as teachers looking for a fun way to introduce science concepts involving light. Highly recommended.