Light: The Extraordinary Energy That Illuminates Our World

Spectacular Science

by Jess Wade, Ana Sanfelippo (illustrator)

The author of the best-selling, award-winning picture book Nano presents a vibrant picture-book introduction to the science of light.

From the complexities of the night sky to the inner workings of rainbows, explore and celebrate the mind-bending science of light. Combining text by Dr. Jess Wade—a highly skilled physicist and trailblazing campaigner for diversity in STEAM fields—and beautiful, dynamic pictures by Ana Sanfelippo, this compelling blend of curriculum essentials and cutting-edge physics inspires budding scientists and engineers to step beyond their textbooks into a world of fascinating real-world science.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 29, 2025

About the author

Dr. Jess Wade is an award-winning physicist, activist, and science-communicator. Nano is her first book for children. She lives in London.

Reviews

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light definitely shines on in this non-fiction exploration of “The Extraordinary Energy That Illuminates Our World.”
Uniquely explained, Light breaks down concepts in a way that feels more like a story than the usual fact book for children. Very engaging as well as informative and truly celebrates “the mind-bending science of light.

Recommended, for ages 5-10 by SEPA Book Reviewers

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect for little ones to understand about light. It’s colorful and packed with information without overwhelming your kids.

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charmingly simple illustration of how we perceive light and how it affects our world. I loved the colorful illustrations! I could see this being used in an elementary science class.