I'm a Photon

by Eve M. Vavagiakis, Mike Malbrough (illustrator)

Photons are everywhere, from the twinkling of stars to the heat from our own breath. Here is an illuminating intro to these versatile light particles, sure to spark the imaginations of curious young scientists.

Fascinating photons make up light and all other radiation, from X-rays and microwaves to the colors of the rainbow. Scientists use tiny photons to study and create things big and small, like using a precise laser in an experiment or learning about the origins of the universe itself. Complex concepts are presented in a fun and readable style as physicist Dr. Eve Vavagiakis shines a light on these unique elementary particles and the many ways they appear and behave. Readers are invited to imagine harnessing the power of photons, perhaps by observing distant stars through a telescope or building a quantum computer! Energetic illustrations and catchy rhymes sparkle in this latest entry in the STEM-tastic Meet the Universe series. Back matter includes a “Know Your Photons” section that expands on concepts introduced in the text.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Eve M. Vavagiakis holds a PhD in physics from Cornell University. A space enthusiast since childhood, she now works in experimental cosmology as part of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, CCAT-prime, CMB-S4, and Simons Observatory collaborations to build instrumentation and study the oldest light in the universe. She also codirects the high energy physics reader’s digest blog ParticleBites. Eve M. Vavagiakis lives in Ithaca, New York.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, colorful book that gives kids some basics around what photons are and an end section with more detailed information (for those with the attention span/understanding for it).