Electricity: Bulbs, Batteries, & Sparks

Stille, D.R. (2004). Electricity: Bulbs, batteries, and sparks (Sheree Boyd, illus.). Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books.

Genre: Non-fiction/Informational
Format: Picture Book
Recommended Age: 7-9

Stille's book Electricity: Bulbs, Batteries, & Sparks is a treasure trove of information. Children will learn about where electricity comes from, how it's made, how we store it, and the many uses we have for it in this world. Simple, colorful illustrations accompany each new page, demonstrating acts such as a girl using electricity to blow-dry her hair or a boy using electricity to turn the TV on and off. Pictures of powerlines and windmill farms also give children a visual image of the many ways we create and store electricity. Scattered throughout the book are "fun facts" and at the back of the book children are provided with fun science experiments to try out, as well as important safety tips concerning electricity. This book would work wonders for children ages 7-9, as it is a wonderful introduction to children on the topic of electricity. Children will get fun illustrations they wouldn't usually get with textbooks, and the experiments in the back will give them hands-on experience they need to better understand electricity and how it works. An excellent resource for the classroom and any library, I highly recommend this work to any collection.