I'm a Neutrino

February 1, 2022
The mysteries of a neutrino unfold! This rhyming tale with minimal text offers a whimsical initiation into the wonders and features of a neutrino particle. Young readers will learn about the traits of neutrinos--charge, mass, weight, flavors, movements, and origins--and their significance. Ethereal digital illustrations with comical touches portray neutrinos from micro and macro perspectives and conjure up awe-inspiring images of outer space. Children and scientists of various races and genders are shown studying neutrinos; one double-page spread depicts the interior of a neutrino detector. Although the rhymes are sometimes wobbly and skew young, the text provides a solid foundation from which to launch deeper explorations of the subject matter. Not all youngsters will be developmentally ready to digest and comprehend the ideas presented, but precocious young scientists will doubtlessly benefit. The information and concepts are rather abstract, and not much explanation or detail is provided in the main text ("I am a fermion that can hardly be traced. I come in flavors but not ones you can taste"), but the backmatter provides more specifics and expounds upon unfamiliar terminology. Overall, this book would be a helpful addition to any science collection, though it's best suited for more mature young readers. A poetic, gently humorous introduction to the world of neutrino physics. (further reading) (Informational picture book. 5-8)

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March 15, 2022
Grades 1-4 Young readers--or their parents--who pick up this book thinking it's about a tiny, cute, fuzzy-looking creature called a neutrino traveling through the universe may be surprised to find that the book has more physics content than they first suspected. Lemesis' striking digital illustrations are accompanied by spare rhyming text: "I am a particle, like electrons and light. / I can pass through you without stopping my flight!" The concept of what exactly a neutrino is will be more easily understood by older readers: while the text clearly states that a neutrino is a fermion, it doesn't actually directly state what a fermion is, and there's no glossary. Terms are explained in the book's back matter, which describes the physics of the neutrino as depicted on each of the page spreads. The illustrations depict children and adults of different genders and races; these fun visuals effectively depict the wonder and mysteriousness of this tiny particle. Kids who are curious about science will find this book an accessible and appealing entry point.

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May 9, 2022
The mother-daughter team behind this introduction to the neutrino—the most abundant of nature’s mass-possessing particles—invites budding physicists to help solve the mysteries of this fundamental building block. “I am a particle, like electrons and light./ I can pass through you without stopping my flight!” a neutrino narrates in spare rhyming verse, Vavagiakis’s personification imparting a user-friendly tone. Digitally rendered illustrations by Lemesis do the same, depicting stylized neutrinos as tiny, spiky-haired beings that dance across the swirls of a colorful cosmos or fly through a particle accelerator. Though some vocabulary initially used without definition (fermion, muon, tau) may confuse readers not yet in the know, helpful “Know Your Neutrinos” back matter expands upon each spread with accessible scientific detail. Unabashedly tackling a complex subject, this STEM read is sure to inspire curiosity. Ages 7–9.

May 27, 2022

Gr 1-5-This book tackles a huge topic about the tiny particles that zoom all around us. Neutrinos are mysterious particles that have been around since the beginning of time. The narrator, a neutrino, unravels some of the secrets these specks hold. Neutrino describes how they are similar to electrons, but without an electrical charge. In addition to science content, the math concept of exponents is mentioned when Neutrino explains how light the particles are. The text is straightforward, allowing young readers to start to grasp a difficult scientific concept. However, some of the vocabulary is challenging. Vavagiakis includes a noteworthy appendix with additional information about neutrinos, including links to several additional resources for further exploration. The illustrations are awash with beautiful blues, oranges, and other hues; the illustrator creates whimsical neutrinos that bounce from page to page. It's an ambitious science topic simplified to a level many will be able to handle. VERDICT If your shelves are in need of particle science this might be a nice addition, although the concept is very abstract and will probably need further explanation by additional sources.-Erin Olsen

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