Why?: A Sciencey, Rhymey Guide to Rainbows

by Billy Dunne, Rhys Jefferys (Illustrator)

This is a book for all the children who love asking "Why?"―and all the parents who struggle to answer!

Her daddy wiped his sweating head, she looked him in the eye. With growing passion in her voice, she asked intently, "Why?"

Dad is quite confident in explaining how a rainbow is made to his curious daughter, but when she keeps repeating "why?" his explanation spirals deep into science-y lingo that has his brow sweating! How far will he have to go until he satisfies her curiosity? A science-y, rhymey guide to rainbows that even those with no scientific knowledge can enjoy. This fun, lively story is written by Dr. Billy Dunne and illustrated in brilliantly bright rainbow colors by Rhys Jefferys.

A great gift for children and parents who are going through the "why" stage. This book presents a fun, tongue-in-cheek way to learn about the science of rainbows! Suitable for children aged 3 – 6 years old.

Genres: Picture Books, Stem

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 6, 2020

Reviews

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was funny how the dad kept getting more overwhelmed the more in-depth questions his daughter asked. I don't know how this will do at actually conveying science concepts--it's a little tricky trying to constrain and scientific explanation to a rhyme scheme. But it did a serviceable job, and the illustrations were colorful, cute, and not overwhelming in terms of scientific detail.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm torn on my feelings for this book. As an adult, it literally made me laugh out loud. But as a children's book, it may go over the head of many children. A daughter wants to understand the science behind a rainbow and every time her father provides an answer, she asks "why". The father's answers get increasingly more complex every time he answers and he gets more and more panicky which an adult can totally appreciate but overall, I don't think children are going to understand the scientific explanations or appreciate the humor. AND the author makes it all rhyme. Whew.

[mg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parents might get more of a hoot out of this one with the child's neverending "WHYs..." But it's a fun way to start exploring light, refraction, rainbows, etc. (BONUS: Great way to integrate STEM into a Pride Story Time, too!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, educational, and relatable to both kids and parents

[Charlotte Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous book about a daughter asking her dad, repeatedly, why rainbows exist. The rhyming is lovely. I’m not sure if some the science will go over the children’s head though.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi Preschool story time 03-15-2022

[Poppy Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book all about how we get rainbows! It's gone down very well with the sciencey folk in our family!