Bouncing and Bending Light

Children's Literature - Judy Katsh

More than a collection of cool things to do with light, this book uses demonstrations and interactive text to help readers learn about the properties of light. The author has science shows on TV and radio. He clearly knows how to explain complicated principles to kids in an entertaining, but thorough and non-condescending way. Bouncing and Bending Light is a treat for curious kids.

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Tomecek is a geologist and science educator who challenges young readers to come up with their own interpretations of how the world behaves. This book is filled with experiments that show how light bounces and bends, how lenses work and other phenomena involving light. The treatment is "light" and a bit irreverent, but that may make it all the more appealing to kids. Answers to questions are printed as mirror images. A section that includes historical vignettes is aptly entitled "Spotlight On" and focuses on big names such as da Vinci, Newton, Franklin, and Galileo.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8Tomecek extends an invitation to readers to come up with their own scientific facts about light by trying out experiments. Concepts such as how light bounces, how lenses work, and where color comes from are explored, followed by brief narratives that link the topics to phenomena that readers have likely experienced on their own. The procedures are clearly stated; lists of materials needed appear as sidebars. Questions are asked to guide interpretation of results, and clues are provided that can be read by looking in a mirror. Diagrams and humorous full-color illustrations (many of which feature the author) clarify procedures and explanations. Tomecek also puts the ``spotlight'' on scientists who have made contributions to the understanding of the properties of light and lenses. There is a lot of good scienceand a great deal of funpacked into this brief handbook. Children will find the activities easy to do and, most importantly, will learn much about light as they work their way through the book. In addition, teachers will find this title to be a useful resource.Carolyn Angus, The Claremont Graduate School, CA