Glow: Animals with Their Own Night-Lights

Powerful images from more than a dozen nature photographers introduce bioluminescent insects, fungi, and sea creatures. Beck (Malcolm at Midnight) pairs quiet reflections on why each animal glows (“They glow to invite. They glow to call for help”) with more detailed explanations. Some sea creatures, such as the jewel squid, camouflage themselves through “counter-illumination. They can adjust their lights so that their undersides match the sunlight above the water.” Glowworms, meanwhile, lure insect prey into a cave with their pale blue light. Set against black backdrops, the photographs are often hauntingly beautiful, and closing pages note the creatures’ habitats, actual size, and binomial nomenclature. Ages 4–7. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt Agency. (Jan.)