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 to coordinate flight movements, to the reed frog’s heat reflecting “vest,” to the hummingbird’s sequinned “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.

Key Text Features

author's note

bibliography

definitions

explanation

facts

further information

illustrations

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.5
Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, drawing on a wide reading of a range of text types.

KAREN JAMESON is a children’s author, a poet and a literacy advocate whose lyrical picture books include Moon Babies, illustrated by Amy Hevron; Woodland Dreams, illustrated by Marc Boutavant; and Farm Lullaby, illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan. Karen is a former classroom teacher and an active member of SCBWI. She lives and works in sunny Southern California.

DAVE MURRAY is a digital illustrator known for his graphic, highly stylized work. His growing list of clients include the NHL, Canada Post, Air BnB. When he’s not in his Toronto studio, Dave can be found cycling, playing hockey, walking his dog and cheering for the Montreal Canadiens.