Luminous by Julia Kuo

Luminous by Julia Kuo

By Julia Kuo (author) , Julia Kuo (illustrator) Part of the I Am Nature series

"A dazzling, eye-opening book that sends us all to look at the world around us"

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Living Things That Light Up the Night

This book asks readers to imagine something wonderful: that your body could make its own light, like bioluminescent creatures.

A parent and child set off on a journey of discovery, through striking midnight blue pages, to discover these creatures, from fireflies and fungi in the forest to the mysterious and beautiful ones that light up the oceans, jewelled squid, dragonfish and more.

The spreads are stunning, their inky backgrounds lit up by bold streaks of colour, and the text is just as illuminating, with concepts such as energy, camouflage, dinoflagellates and biodiversity explained alongside the demonstrations of bioluminescence.

An extraordinary, dazzling, eye-opening book that sends us all to look, really look at the world around us.

In this "surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world" (Kirkus STARRED Review), kids aged 4 to 8 will marvel at the science of bioluminescence through stunning images of glowing creatures and other organisms.When it's dark out, we need light to see. But what if your body could make its own light?From acclaimed author-illustrator Julia Kuo comes a remarkable picture book about bioluminescence, the light made from living things, and its many forms: fireflies and foxfire, fungi and glow-worms, deep-sea fish and vampire squids.Kuo's radiant art portrays a young child and adult discovering different bioluminescent creatures, accompanied by simple lyrical text and informative sidebars that reveal fascinating scientific facts about each of them.An introduction to an extraordinary natural phenomenon, Luminous shines a light upon how truly wondrous the world is.Luminous features:Brilliant and unique illustrations: The depiction of vibrant bioluminescent species against an unusual black backdrop creates an unforgettable visual experience for readers.The science of bioluminescence: Shares the real-life magic of bioluminescence with sidebars about the various places and species in which bioluminescence is found.Text can be read on two levels: Kuo's simple and poetic narrative is accompanied by scientific facts about bioluminescence.

In this "surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world" ( Kirkus STARRED Review), kids aged 4 to 8 will marvel at the science of bioluminescence through stunning images of glowing creatures and other organisms. When it's dark out, we need light to see. But what if your body could make its own light? From acclaimed author-illustrator Julia Kuo comes a remarkable picture book about bioluminescence, the light made from living things, and its many forms: fireflies and foxfire, fungi and glow-worms, deep-sea fish and vampire squids. Kuo's radiant art portrays a young child and adult discovering different bioluminescent creatures, accompanied by simple lyrical text and informative sidebars that reveal fascinating scientific facts about each of them. An introduction to an extraordinary natural phenomenon, Luminous shines a light upon how truly wondrous the world is. Luminous features:

Gorgeous....effectively capture[s] the subdued glow of bioluminescent life....The poetic text...encourages observation and wonder....a gentle warning that human-caused light pollution is making this amazing phenomenon increasingly difficult to see. - Horn Book Review

Will intrigue children and make them feel they have learned something new without feeling as though they are being taught....the illustrations...immediately evoke the glow of bioluminescence. Lovely. - School Library Journal

With two-level text and illustrations that almost seem to glow, Kuo presents the phenomenon of bioluminescence ... simple, poetic text and striking images make for an effective group read-aloud. A surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world. - Kirkus Review

Appealing....Engaging, informative. - Booklist

Beautifully illustrated....arresting illustrations steal the show....a lovely introduction to bioluminescence, whether read as a snuggly bedtime story or shared in a group setting to a set a tone of appreciation for the beauties of nature. - Booklist Review

Breathtaking...a revealing book whose visual appeal, like bioluminescence itself, lures unsuspecting readers in. - Publishers Weekly Review

Praise for I Dream of Popo written by Livia Blackburne, illustrated by Julia Kuo;

...Faithful representations of Chinese-language signage, street scenes, and cityscapes evoke nostalgia for those familiar with Taiwan and its vibrant food culture. Whimsical depictions of Chinese New Year at home and Popo's kitchen are authentic, down to the accurate details on a calendar, dumpling making from scratch, and the iconic rice cooker. Readers will connect with this visual story on various levels or learn something new; possibly both. - Kirkus STARRED Review

...Digital illustrations evoking vintage advertisements have an effectively nostalgic quality, enhanced by abstract-colored skies, a subtle rice paper-like texture, and a subdued mid-century modern palette, while contemporary touches, including spreads of the girl and Popo video chatting, ground the story in the present day. A richly nuanced narrative that illuminates the interstices of one family's diasporic experience. - Publishers Weekly STARRED Review

Praise for The Sound of Silence written by Katrina Goldsaito, illustrated by Julia Kuo;

Every detail of this book brings Japan vividly to life, from popular storefronts and cartoon characters to commuters wearing surgical masks and children removing their outside shoes at school. Japanese is rich in onomatopoeic sounds, and Goldsaito and Kuo convey this linguistic quirk to English readers both visually and verbally. The elegantly expressive text and illustrations together create an immersive sensory experience for readers. - Kirkus STARRED Review

Kuo's digitally colored pen drawings perform glorious double duty, introducing the bustling street scenes and orderly private interiors of Yoshio's beloved Tokyo, and translating the concept of ma into literal and figurative imagery. - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED Review

Julia Kuo is a Taiwanese-American author-illustrator who has worked with The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Science Friday. She's illustrated I Dream of Popo, I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story, and The Sound of Silence, among others. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

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But what if your body could make its own light?From acclaimed author-illustrator Julia Kuo comes a remarkable picture book about bioluminescence, the light made from living things, and its many forms: fireflies and foxfire, fungi and glow-worms, deep-sea fish and vampire squids.Kuo's radiant art portrays a young child and adult discovering different bioluminescent creatures, accompanied by simple lyrical text and informative sidebars that reveal fascinating scientific facts about each of them.An introduction to an extraordinary natural phenomenon, Luminous shines a light upon how truly wondrous the world is.Luminous features:Brilliant and unique illustrations: The depiction of vibrant bioluminescent species against an unusual black backdrop creates an unforgettable visual experience for readers.The science of bioluminescence: Shares the real-life magic of bioluminescence with sidebars about the various places and species in which bioluminescence is found.Text can be read on two levels: Kuo's simple and poetic narrative is accompanied by scientific facts about bioluminescence.

The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Luminous and determined it is suitable for children aged 5-8 years old

Luminous features in the following genres: Featured Books for 7+ readers, Recommendations, Science, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, The Natural World, Featured Books for 5+ readers

Paperback, Hardback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. Not Available.

Luminous was written by Julia Kuo and published by Greystone Kids an imprint of Greystone Books

Luminous has 44 pages

Yes it is part of I Am Nature series

£7.19, reduced from £7.99. Not Available.

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