Combining an amiable voice with unusual breadth of vision, depth of knowledge, and subtlety of presentation, this is a masterful book in a highly original science series. Every element in the complex, beautiful illustrations supports the informative text, which offers a welcome, long-term perspective on the subject. As in the Living Sunlight (2009) and Ocean Sunlight (2012), Bang’s expertise and creativity in making picture books are well matched with Chisholm’s solid grasp of science. Six appended pages offer more detail on the topics presented. The Sunlight Series is a collaboration between illustrator and childrens book author Molly Bang and author and scientist Penny Chisholm. After describing the formation of those fuels over many millions of years, the sun reflects on how the burning of that buried sunlight over a few hundred years has put more carbon dioxide into earth’s atmosphere and, increasingly, warmed its land and seas. The sun addresses readers, explaining photosynthesis and how a slight imbalance in the cycle of life on earth led to the formation of oxygen in the water and air as well as fossil fuels buried under land and sea. This handsome picture book opens with a cutaway view of the earth showing buried fossil fuels (coal, gas, and oil) as glowing bits of “buried sunlight,” while above ground, electric lights illuminate cities, and stars blaze in the night sky.
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