Living Light: Conserving Bioluminescent Plants and Animals

Gr 6 Up–Bioluminescence refers to plants and animals that create their own light using chemicals or bacteria. Aitken shares some of the remarkable plants and animals that create their own light and how they have allowed scientists to see and do things in new ways. Using both expository and narrative text, the author provides a glimpse into the glorious natural world of fireflies, jellyfish, and plankton. Aitken, sharing personal experiences, offers just the right amount of accessibility in this remarkable book. Gorgeous photographs, nicely arranged sidebars, and well-defined terms make the book very attractive as well as informative. Complex processes and concepts are explained thoroughly but do require background knowledge related to chemistry and biology. Issues related to scientific ethics are presented in the chapters on how scientists are using knowledge of bioluminescence to develop new technology for both research and consumer purposes.