What do you think?
Rate this book
Time to Shine: Celebrating the World's Iridescent Animals
Let yourself be dazzled by creatures around the world in this brilliant nonfiction picture book about iridescence.
Have you ever noticed the rainbow-like shimmer on certain bird feathers, insect bodies and animal scales? This effect, called iridescence, changes depending on the angle from which its viewed, and animals across the globe use the effect to both blend in and stand out.
In playful rhyming couplets, Time to Shine takes a closer look at these creatures and their sparkly “clothes,” from the mallard duck’s shining green flying “cap,” which allows the birds coordinate flight movements, to the reed frog’s heat reflecting “vest,” to the hummingbird’s sequined “costume,” which helps to attract a mate. A secondary level of prose text on each spread gives further context for each animal’s particular environment and adaptation.
Light seems to dance off of the book's vibrant pages, with illustrations that bring us up close and personal with animals both exotic and familiar to young readers. An author’s note provides additional information about the science of iridescence.
Have you ever noticed the rainbow-like shimmer on certain bird feathers, insect bodies and animal scales? This effect, called iridescence, changes depending on the angle from which its viewed, and animals across the globe use the effect to both blend in and stand out.
In playful rhyming couplets, Time to Shine takes a closer look at these creatures and their sparkly “clothes,” from the mallard duck’s shining green flying “cap,” which allows the birds coordinate flight movements, to the reed frog’s heat reflecting “vest,” to the hummingbird’s sequined “costume,” which helps to attract a mate. A secondary level of prose text on each spread gives further context for each animal’s particular environment and adaptation.
Light seems to dance off of the book's vibrant pages, with illustrations that bring us up close and personal with animals both exotic and familiar to young readers. An author’s note provides additional information about the science of iridescence.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 5, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 22, 2022
I really liked this rhyming picture book homage to iridescent animals. Each page features a short stanza (usually just two lines) of rhyming text, accompanied by a slightly longer block of non-rhyming text offering more information about the animal in question. This combination of text makes this book accessible and appealing for a wide range of children, from preschoolers all the way through elementary school.
Themes: Animals, STEM
Age range: Preschool-Elementary
Themes: Animals, STEM
Age range: Preschool-Elementary
August 2, 2022
I didn't realize how many animals (including many that I am aware of!) use iridescence for defense, camouflage, standing out, finding mates, and more. Each spread has a general overview sentence about one animal along with a few sentences that give more explanation, which allows readers to scale this for preschool or early elementary. I wish it was photos instead of illustrations so you can actually see the iridescence.
January 6, 2023
I liked the one line of text per page spread, which makes for a perfect read-aloud for Littles. I also liked the colorful illustrations but I felt some (like the jumping spider) were a bit too abstract to be effective. I think the book would have been more appealing to its audience with some sparkly iridescence (Think Rainbow Fish.)
December 31, 2022
Fun subject! The illustrations were pretty cool... but I think real photographs would have made the book more brilliant.
March 11, 2024
Honestly, I'm disappointed by this book after special ordering it from the library. I would have thought that a children's publication about the world's iridescent animals would feature some kind of shiny effects... but no, the only gleaming thing here is a thin silver outline around the book's title.
Admittedly, the digital artwork is quite cool, in that semi-abstract way of collages and paper-cut illustrations. Via clever use of color, it does manage to evoke a bit of that magical effect that iridescence has on us. (My favorite is the school of silvery fish, complete with sharks in the murky distance... quite the atmospheric scene.) The artist really did a great job with this assignment, and if I had come across his work in any other context, I might have given five stars? It's just that this book could have been so much more than what it is, if the publisher had gone the extra mile and used some special materials.
As an aside: The brief descriptions of the animals' use of iridescence were interesting. However I didn't care for the two-line poems included with each creature. I found them uninspired/forced/tired, and I didn't like the comparison of animals' body parts to human attire (dresses, sleeves, vests, etc.). I'll give you an example so you can judge for yourself:
Admittedly, the digital artwork is quite cool, in that semi-abstract way of collages and paper-cut illustrations. Via clever use of color, it does manage to evoke a bit of that magical effect that iridescence has on us. (My favorite is the school of silvery fish, complete with sharks in the murky distance... quite the atmospheric scene.) The artist really did a great job with this assignment, and if I had come across his work in any other context, I might have given five stars? It's just that this book could have been so much more than what it is, if the publisher had gone the extra mile and used some special materials.
As an aside: The brief descriptions of the animals' use of iridescence were interesting. However I didn't care for the two-line poems included with each creature. I found them uninspired/forced/tired, and I didn't like the comparison of animals' body parts to human attire (dresses, sleeves, vests, etc.). I'll give you an example so you can judge for yourself:
Mallards sporting flying caps
leave behind their travel maps.
January 18, 2023
When their jackets flicker-flash,
beetles seem to dart and dash!
p. 7-8
Each two-page layout features a GORGEOUS illustration by Dave Murray and a few lines of RHYMING text by Karen Jameson along with a short sidebar describing the featured animal in detail. For the metallic beetle-
Glint, glitter, gleam! Light bouncing off metallic beetles scatters in multiple directions at once, confusing predators hoping to pounce on a tasty meal. This use of iridescence is called dynamic disruptive camouflage.
WOW!!! There's SO MUCH TO DO WITH k-2 STUDENTS using this book - read aloud the rhyming text and then return to favorites to read the sidebars. Talk about how Jameson plays with language. Explore and expand unfamiliar vocabulary. Tie into an NGSS unit of study. OR just learn some cool facts about animals. With grades 3-5 students, explore this title and other titles by Jameson to think about how they can reveal learning they have done through inquiry in a similar format.
DON'T SKIP THE BACK MATTER - LOVE how Jameson has written an explanation of iridescence that is kid-friendly and pretty much read to be read aloud, too!
beetles seem to dart and dash!
p. 7-8
Each two-page layout features a GORGEOUS illustration by Dave Murray and a few lines of RHYMING text by Karen Jameson along with a short sidebar describing the featured animal in detail. For the metallic beetle-
Glint, glitter, gleam! Light bouncing off metallic beetles scatters in multiple directions at once, confusing predators hoping to pounce on a tasty meal. This use of iridescence is called dynamic disruptive camouflage.
WOW!!! There's SO MUCH TO DO WITH k-2 STUDENTS using this book - read aloud the rhyming text and then return to favorites to read the sidebars. Talk about how Jameson plays with language. Explore and expand unfamiliar vocabulary. Tie into an NGSS unit of study. OR just learn some cool facts about animals. With grades 3-5 students, explore this title and other titles by Jameson to think about how they can reveal learning they have done through inquiry in a similar format.
DON'T SKIP THE BACK MATTER - LOVE how Jameson has written an explanation of iridescence that is kid-friendly and pretty much read to be read aloud, too!
December 21, 2021
The animal kingdom is full of some amazing creatures - and the colors that they portray are just as fascinating.
I loved reading through this book and learning more about some the animals, the way they use their coloring, and how it can work - or be their downfall (in certain situations).
Fabulous and engaging! Perfect for kids who enjoy animals of all types!
I loved reading through this book and learning more about some the animals, the way they use their coloring, and how it can work - or be their downfall (in certain situations).
Fabulous and engaging! Perfect for kids who enjoy animals of all types!
November 20, 2022
The author delivers with a great job of both simple text and more informative text per page - great for young and older children. Love that :)
Even though it's colorful, the illustrator, disappoints. I expected iridescent illustrations to give the dazzle that this book deserves. Or was it lost in publishing? Wish it could be redone. Still, a good addition to a school library.
Even though it's colorful, the illustrator, disappoints. I expected iridescent illustrations to give the dazzle that this book deserves. Or was it lost in publishing? Wish it could be redone. Still, a good addition to a school library.
April 3, 2024
Each double page spread features one specie with iridescent qualities. A simple rhyming text invites, read aloud while smaller descriptive texts inform readers of characteristics of the iridescent animals from giant clams, mallard, ducks, dragonflies, and more.
Want to Read
November 23, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
July 16, 2022
Engaging rhymes coupled with informational text and arresting visuals offer readers an appealing introduction to iridescent amphibians, birds, inscets, reptiles, and ocean life.
July 19, 2022
Good book about and with bright colors
July 21, 2022
The book needs more shine. I was looking forward to the shiny pages.
Want to Read
May 17, 2023found from SLJ list: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews