Ray: How Light Works

4.3

0.0 (0)

574 0

Write Review Add to favorites

Author(s)

Emily Kate Moon

Publisher

Dial Books

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

June 10, 2025

ISBN

978-0593857984

Buy This Book

The dazzling Ray illuminates how light works—part of the Science Pals series, including Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle and Puff: 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.

"[A] refreshing combination of charm and solid fact [and] a high-wattage spotlight on our most important power source." —Kirkus

"[A] brilliant addition to the Science Pals series. . . . Every part of the book is packed with fascinating facts and tidbits. [Kids] will appreciate Moon's inviting approach." —Booklist

Editor review

1 review

A joyful read

July 22, 2025 (Updated: June 06, 2026)

Overall rating

4.3

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Learning Value

4.0

With a bold, colorful cover, kids will immediately be drawn to Ray: How Light Works, a nonfiction picture book with a lot of style.
Featuring characters from the other two books in the series, Puff (air) and Drop (water), Ray is an information packed picture book.
Readers learn that all light ultimately comes from stars like the sun, even the glow of fireflies. Puff is shown to filter harmful solar radiation and Drop demonstrates how light powers the hydrologic cycle.

The narrative is fun with lots of bright and bold color, and charming characters.
The typeface is different when the characters speak and use puns like, “I’m traveling light,” to make the point that light is weightless.
Ray is pictured throughout as a fuzzy ball of light with a three dot face surrounded by rays like an illustrated sun.
Ray: How Light Works is a great introduction to the concept of light that will ignite a child's interest in science.