Unexpected and interesting history of day-glo, those bright colors found in highlighters, safety gear, and terribly popular for clothing in the 80's. Turns out 2 brothers from Montana accidentally invented the daylight fluorescent paint. Neat to see the two very different personalities work together, approaching the problem with their unique ideas to find a solution. As expected, fantastic use of color throughout. ( )

Never once thought about who invented Day-Glo, but now I know! Illustrations are black-and-white with pops and floods of color, including Day-Glo endpapers. Back matter: author's note, sources. ( )

Summary: Biographical tale of the brothers who invented Day-Glo paint.

Reflections: Fun, retro art. Workmanlike storytelling. Sense of can-do, never-give-up spirit. The brothers succeed hugely despite the unexpected direction their lives take. ( )

This book, written by Austin resident Chris Barton and illustrated by Tony Persiani, is a 2010 Sibert Honor Book, an award given to outstanding informational books for children. It's about the brothers who invented glow-in-the-dark (under ultraviolet light) and "Day-Glo" (that also glowed in daylight) paints in the 1930s. I loved the ending. There are also explanations at the book's conclusion on how regular and daylight fluorescence work.

Barton's note at the end is also interesting for his appreciation of the primary sources he used to tell this story. Persiani's illustrations add a lot to the lighthearted tone of the book. He used a computer to create black-and-white cartoon-like drawings that were digitally colorized with Day-Glo orange, yellow, and green. Endpapers are also in those Day-Glo colors. At 44 pages, I see this book as appropriate for intermediate grade (4th-6th) readers, and especially appealing to boys. ( )

-Appropriately illustrated for the subject matter- Retro '60s style with black and white and splashes of day-glo color.
-Smart and well-written storyline. Sentences and phrasing chosen carefully. Interesting and informative. ( )