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When Mac Barnett, our U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2025-26, announced that STEAM “didn’t stick” in a recent NY Times essay, it disappointed many in the nonfiction kidlit world where science dovetails in such a lovely way with English Language Arts. A parent, teacher, or librarian has only to check out educator resources like Patricia Newman’s LitLInks blog for proof. Or talk with Melissa Stewart about how half of all school kids prefer nonfiction, so why not present it creatively, lyrically, or humorously, and with some of the most amazing art you’ll see outside of MOMA? I’m NOT talking about desiccated encyclopedia entries here.
I see STEAM as STEM and ELA doing the tango, enhancing each other’s steps through an evolving, enticing, eclectic, and enthusiastic dance.
A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS is a case in point. It offers up the sublime—the awe-filled wonder of science and nature in myriad poetic tangos exploring the concept of rainbows and how they’re created in different forms. Some through the interplay of light and water, some via gas, some through living creatures, others through land formations. Accordingly, the poems are also presented in different forms, including free verse, haiku, pantoum, rhyme, etc. And each poem is paired with the science behind the specific phenomenon.
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Joyce Sidman’s pantoum is lovely, as is the description of the science behind the moonbow. Here are the first two of four stanzas.
Along the Zambezi
This dancer will not leap for long
over the span of Victoria Falls.
Thunderous water plunges down,
mist swirls up in silver shawls.
Over the span of Victoria Falls,
a full moon crowns the darkened hill.
Mist swirls up in silver shawls,
bending moonlight's slanting spill....
This book can be read straight through, with a “That’s so cool!” to be found on each page. Or readers can dip a toe in by reading a single poem and then finding more in-depth information elsewhere. Back matter includes a glossary, a list of books for further reading, and a list of recommended resources specific to each “rainbow” topic.
Jamey Christoph’s atmospheric spreads, including rainbow end papers and dazzling “rainbows” found throughout, are eye candy for readers.
Not surprisingly, the poets included in this collection are phenomenal:
Nikki Grimes - Rainbows
Matt Forrest Esenwine - Sun Dogs, Fly geyser, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Rainbow Scarab, Zhangye Danxia National Geopark
Renée M. LaTulippe - Pilot's Glories
Joyce Sidman - Moonbows
Irene Latham - Prisms & Crystals
David L. Harrison - Morning Glory Pool
Heidi Stemple/Jane Yolen - Grand Prismatic Spring
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater - Caño Cristales
Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy - Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees
Charles Waters - Rainbow Lorakeet
Marilyn Singer - Gouldian Finch
Rebecca Kai Dotlich - Rainbow Hibiscus
Laura Purdie Salas - Rainbow Fish
Charles Ghigna - Peacock Spider
Lee Wardlaw - Insect Wings
Janet Wong - Vinicunca
Allan Wolf - Las Cavernas de Marmol
Georgia Heard - Rainbow Nebula
Activities:
For the older kids and adults who are interested, here’s a cool video explanation by Physics Girl of how rainbows form that’s more complicated and more complete than the standard explanation.
Watch this video explanation of rainbows by Mystery Science that’s less complicated than the one above.
Write an acrostic poem using the word R-A-I-N-B-O-W. Bonus points for including words associated with colors in the poem.
Title: A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World
Authors: See above
Illustrator: Jamey Christoph
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025
Themes: light, rainbows, STEM
Ages: Elementary school
For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.
I saw this book mentioned somewhere – PW maybe? – and I knew it was poetry, but I didn’t realize how many wonderful poets were included – Renee! Yay! – or how beautiful the art was! I will definitely need to find this and read it all the way through. The stanzas you quoted got me hooked! 🙂
Yay! Yes, the line-up of poets is first class all the way! And the art rises to the challenge.
Wow, Jilanne, I’m beside myself reading this – thank you SO MUCH!
Thank you for bringing this beautiful book into the world!
This anthology looks amazing! Thanks, Jilanne, for the recommendation!
It is, Hilary! I hope you have a chance to check it out.
Your descriptions, and the glimpses you reveal of this new anthology, including the amazing list of poets, make me want to dance to my nearest indie bookstore to find a copy of this gorgeous book.
Dance dance dance!!!!
I recently came across this wonderful book and was thrilled to see so many familiar names. I’m looking forward to sitting in a comfy chair with this poetry collection.
Maybe add a cup of tea and a snuggly furry creature to the mix?