Watt’s Up?: Electricity at Work

Gr 3-5–Where does electricity come from? How is it harnessed to switch on lights and operate machines? Readers who ask these questions will find answers in this informational book with four chapters. The introduction clearly establishes electricity’s importance in modern life and captures attentions with an engaging hook “Zip. Blip. The power’s out! Suddenly, you have no lights, TV, or Internet.” The text is divided into topics denoted by headings, and the sentences are short. These features reduce cognitive load as readers learn about the complexities of how electricity is generated and used as a power source. Other features include a glossary, index, visuals with captions, sources for further reading, and two kid-friendly experiments. While the book’s content appears accurate, its credibility as an informational text is undermined by the lack of a bibliography and the absence of vetting by a subject matter expert. Further, its coverage is less comprehensive than similar titles. For example, it does not address static electricity or types of electrical currents, and limited attention is given to contemporary advances in technology powered by electricity.