Ray: How Light Works

by Emily Kate Moon

The Science Pals series introduces the dazzling Ray, revealing how light works—from the creator of An Adventure through the Water Cycle and All About Air

Meet Ray. He's light! And he's been shining since time began. Wherever there's life on Earth, there's Ray, helping everything under the sun thrive. And Ray can really move—fast. Have you ever hurtled through space? Become a rainbow? Made food for plants? Ray has! With brilliant wit and sparkling one-liners, Ray introduces readers to a light show like no other. Filled with awe-inspiring artwork, funny asides, and a spotlight on kid-enticing facts, Ray invites us to bask in his warmth, as he illuminates our world.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction, Nature

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Emily Kate Moon is an award-winning American author and illustrator. Her published works include PUFF: All About Air (Dial Books, 2024), DROP: An Adventure Through the Water Cycle (Dial Books, 2021), and JOONE (Dial Books, 2013).

Her current series, Science Pals, is a new, fun, and engaging way to teach science to kids, ages 4-100. Using simple words and a narrative style, these books explain the basics of water, air, and light. The third book of the series, RAY: How Light Works will be out June 10, 2025.

DROP is a Blue Ribbon Selection of Dolly Parton's Imaginary Library for 2022 and 2023. Over 750,000 copies of DROP have been shipped to families around the world through this program.

JOONE is the winner of the 2014 CLC Book Award for compassion, love, and courage.

For more information about the author, please visit: www.emilykatemoon.com

Reviews

[Ccaywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third in a series that has included Puff (air) and Drop (water), Ray demonstrates how much information can be packed into a picturebook format. Even the endpapers explain that all light ultimately comes from stars like the sun, even the glow of fireflies. Puff is shown to filter harmful solar radiation and Drop demonstrates how light powers the hydrologic cycle. That naturally leads to rainbows, and that to wavelengths and microwave popcorn. Vitamin D is mentioned and photosynthesis briefly explained. Two sideways double-page spreads illustrate light descending into the deep sea and underground where fossils are described as sleeping light.

Introducing science concepts with anthropomorphic characters is often problematic, but here it is handled with a light touch and the science remains factual. The typeface is different when the characters speak and use puns like, “I’m traveling light,” to make the point that light is weightless. Ray is pictured throughout as a fuzzy ball of light with a three dot face surrounded by rays like a sun. This could give the impression that light is a particle, but the closest the author comes to describing photons is to say, “Ray rides the waves as he moves.”

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using the Science Pals, Drop, Puff, and Ray, the author introduces young readers to the concept of light and how it provides the energy that allows life to flourish on Earth. Moon introduces readers to light beginning on the front end papers where she explains what light is, what makes it, and different forms of light. The back end papers provide information about solar energy. In a fun, child-friendly way, the book shares with readers important information about light. Ray (a ray of light with a face) takes readers through basic facts about light once it has left the sun all the way to the depths of the sea and how light influences every aspect of life on earth. The explanations use child friendly language that help young readers understand the information. The illustrations are bright and eye-catching. The book design is appealing as well with text broken up into bite-sized pieces around the illustrations which makes the book less intimidating information-wise. Humorous comments from Ray are scattered among the illustrations adding humor to the story. The fictionalized elements help the information become easier to swallow. While the book is a picture book, I would recommend that it be used with 1st graders on up simply because of the amount of information. The book works well for individual readers as well as teachers looking for a fun way to introduce science concepts involving light. Highly recommended.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

I actually am leaning more towards 2 stars (it was okay) but I'm bumping it because I did like a lot of the illustrations. I also appreciated the information the book gave but I think it tried to fit too much in. I also didn't like how the text was all over the pages. It made it a bit harder to read.

There is some back matter on the inside and back cover but I couldn't read it because I have a library copy and the flaps block it. I really wish publishers would think about that.