Light the Sky, Firefly!

By: Sheri Mabry Bestor
Illustrated by: Jonny Lambert
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: March 2022
ISBN: ‎ 978-1534111158
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: April 19, 2022

A story about the life cycle of fireflies, mixed with lots of interesting facts about these fascinating beetles (yes, beetles!), makes Light the Sky, Firefly! a fun and educational book for both bedtime and school research projects.

On the very first page, a female firefly flutters about, looking for a perfect place to lay her eggs. Once she finds that spot, she can lay up to 500 eggs! Turn the page and we learn about the gestation process and how long it will take those eggs to hatch. Once they hatch, the larvae are hungry and guess what they eat? (Hint: don't read this part of the story while having lunch!) The larvae continue to grow, and eat(!), until winter approaches when it's time to go underground and hibernate. When spring comes, there are many surprises for the emerging firefly...what will happen?

Light the Sky, Firefly! is a fascinating look at the life cycle of a popular creature, one that many people consider an insect. But read this book, and you'll learn much about this beetle, from its life cycle to what allows them to light up the sky. The book has both the story, and little "factoids" on each page. The factoids include fascinating information on things such as how fireflies communicate, molting of the exoskeleton, and even how some scientists are researching the chemical produced by fireflies to see if it can help cure some human diseases. The book is an excellent choice for any child interested in fireflies as well as youngsters looking for a good research project.

Quill says: A fun story, along with a plethora of facts and lovely illustrations, make Light the Sky, Firefly! an excellent addition to your child's bookshelf.