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Glitter Everywhere!
If you love glitter, this book is for you.
If you hate glitter, this book is also for you.
Everyone seems to have strong feelings about glitter. But how much do you actually know about it?
Who invented glitter?
How is it made?
Why does it stick to everything?
Is it bad for the environment?*
And of course:
What makes glitter . . . glitter?
With style and humor, Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat explore the good, the bad, the tiny, and the shiny of all things glitter.
* Spoiler alert! Traditional glitter can be bad for the planet. That’s why the jacket of this book uses a glitter lookalike.
If you hate glitter, this book is also for you.
Everyone seems to have strong feelings about glitter. But how much do you actually know about it?
Who invented glitter?
How is it made?
Why does it stick to everything?
Is it bad for the environment?*
And of course:
What makes glitter . . . glitter?
With style and humor, Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat explore the good, the bad, the tiny, and the shiny of all things glitter.
* Spoiler alert! Traditional glitter can be bad for the planet. That’s why the jacket of this book uses a glitter lookalike.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2023
About the author
Chris Barton
25 books87 followersI'm the author of picture books including bestseller SHARK VS. TRAIN, Sibert Honor-winning THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS, and WHOOSH! LONNIE JOHNSON'S SUPER-SOAKING STREAM OF INVENTIONS, which has been celebrated on 21 state reading lists.
Other well-known titles of mine include 88 INSTRUMENTS, HOW TO MAKE A BOOK (ABOUT MY DOG), FIRE TRUCK VS. DRAGON, DAZZLE SHIPS, THE AMAZING AGE OF JOHN ROY LYNCH, and WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT?
My newest books include GLITTER EVERYWHERE! WHERE IT CAME FROM, WHERE IT'S FOUND & WHERE IT'S GOING (one of National Public Radio's "Books We Love" for 2023) and MOVING FORWARD: FROM SPACE-AGE RIDES TO CIVIL RIGHTS SIT-INS WITH AIRMAN ALTON YATES (a School Library Journal Best Book of 2022).
I visit schools by the score and also love speaking to professional gatherings of librarians, educators, and fellow writers.
I'm married to middle-grade/YA novelist Jennifer Ziegler (WORSER, HOW NOT TO BE POPULAR). Jennifer and I have four adult children and one dog, and we co-host the children’s literature video series “This One’s Dedicated to…” in which we talk with other authors and illustrators about the dedications they’ve written for their books.
Jennifer and I live in Austin, where I serve as vice president of the Texas Institute of Letters, a 501(c)(3) non-profit honor society founded in 1936 to celebrate Texas literature and to recognize distinctive literary achievement.
For more information about me, please visit www.chrisbarton.info or linktr.ee/bartography.
Other well-known titles of mine include 88 INSTRUMENTS, HOW TO MAKE A BOOK (ABOUT MY DOG), FIRE TRUCK VS. DRAGON, DAZZLE SHIPS, THE AMAZING AGE OF JOHN ROY LYNCH, and WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A VOICE LIKE THAT?
My newest books include GLITTER EVERYWHERE! WHERE IT CAME FROM, WHERE IT'S FOUND & WHERE IT'S GOING (one of National Public Radio's "Books We Love" for 2023) and MOVING FORWARD: FROM SPACE-AGE RIDES TO CIVIL RIGHTS SIT-INS WITH AIRMAN ALTON YATES (a School Library Journal Best Book of 2022).
I visit schools by the score and also love speaking to professional gatherings of librarians, educators, and fellow writers.
I'm married to middle-grade/YA novelist Jennifer Ziegler (WORSER, HOW NOT TO BE POPULAR). Jennifer and I have four adult children and one dog, and we co-host the children’s literature video series “This One’s Dedicated to…” in which we talk with other authors and illustrators about the dedications they’ve written for their books.
Jennifer and I live in Austin, where I serve as vice president of the Texas Institute of Letters, a 501(c)(3) non-profit honor society founded in 1936 to celebrate Texas literature and to recognize distinctive literary achievement.
For more information about me, please visit www.chrisbarton.info or linktr.ee/bartography.
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June 19, 2023
In a Nutshell: Sparkly + Humorous + Informative = Shiny Awesomeness. PSA – It is not just for glitter lovers! I am not one and I still loved it!
When I was a child, I was awed by glitter. Its shimmery sparkle was mesmerising. But when I became a mother, I began to avoid glitter with equal fervour – do you know what a tiresome task it is to clean up after a child plays with craft glitter? When I learned about the environmental hazards of glitter, I simply banned craft glitter from my house. But like it or not, glitter is everywhere, whether through glitter pens or shoes or shiny artificial nails or cosmetics or clothes,…
So, when I detest glitter so much, why did I pick this book up? Simple. I realised that while I know my feelings about glitter, I know nothing about glitter itself. Who invented it and why? What makes it so… errrrm… “glittery”? (It was disappointing to learn that glitter isn’t unicorn dandruff! 😂) Can we have a safer, planet-friendly version of glitter? The book answers all of these questions, and a lot more.
From the title and cover, I had anticipated this to be a quick and light-hearted read, *shining* a spotlight on this material that enthrals kids the world over. The book met this expectation easily, with the author’s tongue-in-cheek humour adding loads of fun to the experience. His habit of breaking the fourth wall and explaining his writing choices to the reader adds to the enjoyment.
At the same time, I hadn’t expected the book to delve into the scientific technicalities behind why glitter behaves the way it does or how light waves bend and create shimmer on certain materials. This technical angle, combined with a few difficult terms such as ‘iridescence’, make the book a great option for slightly older children - maybe aged 6-10 years.
Basically, the book covers every single thing you can think of with respect to glitter, and then some more. As the blurb says, it “covers the good, the bad, and shiny of all things glitter.” I was fascinated by each page and the plethora of information it contained. To my pleasure, the book also highlighted the environmental hazards of using glitter, and mentioned how scientists are thinking of possible bio-friendly alternatives.
The backmatter includes the author’s note (brilliant!; don’t miss it!), the illustrator’s note (super sweet!; also loved that she’s based in Chennai!) and a selected bibliography in case you are hungry for more glitter.
What’s a picture book without memorable illustrations, right? The artwork on every page is dazzling and vivid. The central characters who explore glitter along with us are three kids from three distinct ethnicities. Every page is an explosion of colour and has touches of (digital) glitter. The cover page seems to have the title in glitter as well. (As traditional glitter is bad for the planet, the cover uses a glitter lookalike – thank you, dear author and publisher for the decision!) I would recommend you opt for the physical copy of this book than the digital one – it is sure to be a delight!
All in all, though this is quite a niche title, it has much to offer. Loved it and recommend it to every reader, child or adult. After all, whether you love or hate glitter, you can’t escape it, so you might as well learn more about it.
Five flittery-glittery stars!
My thanks to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the DRC of “Glitter Everywhere!: Where it Came From, Where It's Found & Where It's Going”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
When I was a child, I was awed by glitter. Its shimmery sparkle was mesmerising. But when I became a mother, I began to avoid glitter with equal fervour – do you know what a tiresome task it is to clean up after a child plays with craft glitter? When I learned about the environmental hazards of glitter, I simply banned craft glitter from my house. But like it or not, glitter is everywhere, whether through glitter pens or shoes or shiny artificial nails or cosmetics or clothes,…
So, when I detest glitter so much, why did I pick this book up? Simple. I realised that while I know my feelings about glitter, I know nothing about glitter itself. Who invented it and why? What makes it so… errrrm… “glittery”? (It was disappointing to learn that glitter isn’t unicorn dandruff! 😂) Can we have a safer, planet-friendly version of glitter? The book answers all of these questions, and a lot more.
From the title and cover, I had anticipated this to be a quick and light-hearted read, *shining* a spotlight on this material that enthrals kids the world over. The book met this expectation easily, with the author’s tongue-in-cheek humour adding loads of fun to the experience. His habit of breaking the fourth wall and explaining his writing choices to the reader adds to the enjoyment.
At the same time, I hadn’t expected the book to delve into the scientific technicalities behind why glitter behaves the way it does or how light waves bend and create shimmer on certain materials. This technical angle, combined with a few difficult terms such as ‘iridescence’, make the book a great option for slightly older children - maybe aged 6-10 years.
Basically, the book covers every single thing you can think of with respect to glitter, and then some more. As the blurb says, it “covers the good, the bad, and shiny of all things glitter.” I was fascinated by each page and the plethora of information it contained. To my pleasure, the book also highlighted the environmental hazards of using glitter, and mentioned how scientists are thinking of possible bio-friendly alternatives.
The backmatter includes the author’s note (brilliant!; don’t miss it!), the illustrator’s note (super sweet!; also loved that she’s based in Chennai!) and a selected bibliography in case you are hungry for more glitter.
What’s a picture book without memorable illustrations, right? The artwork on every page is dazzling and vivid. The central characters who explore glitter along with us are three kids from three distinct ethnicities. Every page is an explosion of colour and has touches of (digital) glitter. The cover page seems to have the title in glitter as well. (As traditional glitter is bad for the planet, the cover uses a glitter lookalike – thank you, dear author and publisher for the decision!) I would recommend you opt for the physical copy of this book than the digital one – it is sure to be a delight!
All in all, though this is quite a niche title, it has much to offer. Loved it and recommend it to every reader, child or adult. After all, whether you love or hate glitter, you can’t escape it, so you might as well learn more about it.
Five flittery-glittery stars!
My thanks to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the DRC of “Glitter Everywhere!: Where it Came From, Where It's Found & Where It's Going”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Read
September 25, 2023Everyone is familiar with glitter, and most people tend to like it, except those who have to wipe it off of themselves or clean it from surfaces, and even some of those folks might think glitter is worth the mess. Despite its familiarity, glitter is a topic that never seems to be pondered much, probably because glitter usually is involved in situations that do not lend themselves to pondering–for example, parties, cupcakes, and decorations.
In Chris Barton’s newest book Glitter Everywhere!: Where It Came From, Where It’s Found, and Where It’s Going, the prolific nonfiction picture book author has not only pondered glitter, but he has done the research to tell glitter’s story from scientific, historical, ethical, and sociological perspectives. As always, Barton shows respect for and understanding of his audience by taking accuracy seriously while dropping in playful bits along the way. I also appreciate how Barton skillfully delivers a vocabulary lesson for the word iridescent. He introduces the term, then uses it numerous times with plenty of context, and by the end of the book, iridescent is a familiar word.
The remarkable llustrations by Indian artist Chaaya Prabhat feature children from diverse heritages in colorful, horizontally-oriented two-page spreads. Prabhat meets the challenge of effectively illustrating a book about glitter without actually using glitter, which not only saves a mess but acknowledges the potentially negative effects of glitter described in Barton’s text.
Although Glitter Everywhere! is probably not a great readaloud, simply setting this book out on display will draw young readers to it. This is an engrossing book for anyone who has even the slightest interest in glitter, which is pretty much everyone. For those with exceptional interest in glitter, Barton’s abundant back matter provides plenty of further resources for exploration.
In Chris Barton’s newest book Glitter Everywhere!: Where It Came From, Where It’s Found, and Where It’s Going, the prolific nonfiction picture book author has not only pondered glitter, but he has done the research to tell glitter’s story from scientific, historical, ethical, and sociological perspectives. As always, Barton shows respect for and understanding of his audience by taking accuracy seriously while dropping in playful bits along the way. I also appreciate how Barton skillfully delivers a vocabulary lesson for the word iridescent. He introduces the term, then uses it numerous times with plenty of context, and by the end of the book, iridescent is a familiar word.
The remarkable llustrations by Indian artist Chaaya Prabhat feature children from diverse heritages in colorful, horizontally-oriented two-page spreads. Prabhat meets the challenge of effectively illustrating a book about glitter without actually using glitter, which not only saves a mess but acknowledges the potentially negative effects of glitter described in Barton’s text.
Although Glitter Everywhere! is probably not a great readaloud, simply setting this book out on display will draw young readers to it. This is an engrossing book for anyone who has even the slightest interest in glitter, which is pretty much everyone. For those with exceptional interest in glitter, Barton’s abundant back matter provides plenty of further resources for exploration.
February 21, 2023
You can almost hear the squeals of delight when this fancy item lands on the library (or classroom, or bookstore) shelf. And with loads of shiny, iridescent, sparkly, GLITTERY color in fun art by Chaaya Prabhat (Bracelets for Bina's Brothers), it will not disappoint.
But - and also, and most importantly, Chris Barton tracks down all the facts about glitter, from King Tut's tomb to the Pacific Garbage Patch. He stops in Germany, where they made glitter out of crushed glass; Japan, where an 18th-century painter used mica-infused paint to create backgrounds for portraits of kabuki actors; New Orleans, where they cover shoes in glitter for Mardi Gras; and... New Jersey. Apparently glitter is not all glamour.
You will learn about edible glitter, glitter that is bad for fish, glitter that is produced unethically, biodegradable glitter, and allllllll the things that can be covered, coated, or infused with glitter. It's impossible not to get a little breathless thinking about glitter car paint, nail polish, merry-go-round horses, sequins, holographic mylar strips, and THIN FILM IRIDESCENCE. Oh my god I could talk about thin-film iridescence ALL DAY, but Chris sums it up in one paragraph.
Bibliography and further reading are included, because you are GONNA go down some rabbit holes with this one, I promise.
But - and also, and most importantly, Chris Barton tracks down all the facts about glitter, from King Tut's tomb to the Pacific Garbage Patch. He stops in Germany, where they made glitter out of crushed glass; Japan, where an 18th-century painter used mica-infused paint to create backgrounds for portraits of kabuki actors; New Orleans, where they cover shoes in glitter for Mardi Gras; and... New Jersey. Apparently glitter is not all glamour.
You will learn about edible glitter, glitter that is bad for fish, glitter that is produced unethically, biodegradable glitter, and allllllll the things that can be covered, coated, or infused with glitter. It's impossible not to get a little breathless thinking about glitter car paint, nail polish, merry-go-round horses, sequins, holographic mylar strips, and THIN FILM IRIDESCENCE. Oh my god I could talk about thin-film iridescence ALL DAY, but Chris sums it up in one paragraph.
Bibliography and further reading are included, because you are GONNA go down some rabbit holes with this one, I promise.
October 18, 2023
Whether you are a glitter lover or a glitter hater, glitter truly can get everywhere. Personally I love the way glitter sparkles, but I do not like how it falls off of things and sticks to you.
This book taught me way more than I ever knew about glitter and its origin. I also enjoyed learning about natural, safer alternatives to plastic glitter. Even though this book is informative, the author brings in a humorous tone that I appreciated.
This book taught me way more than I ever knew about glitter and its origin. I also enjoyed learning about natural, safer alternatives to plastic glitter. Even though this book is informative, the author brings in a humorous tone that I appreciated.
June 30, 2023
Engaging nonfiction that proves that anything is researchable, and what you find is amazing. Who would think the history of glitter would be so amazing? But, it is! I learned so much about the science of why glitter glitters and how it's connected to an issue of child exploitation. Such a fascinating and fun read. This book shines!
September 29, 2023
This picture book for older readers covers how glitter was originally made, how manufacturers are attempting to make it now to do less environmental harm, the different meanings it has to different groups and the science behind why it sticks to everything.
October 2, 2023
Explains why humans love sparkly things, how glitter was invented, how it has evolved, and what this means for the environment.
This is a really interesting look at an everyday object.
This is a really interesting look at an everyday object.
April 15, 2023
Sometimes I am allowed the chance to attend the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, a place where international publishers of children’s books join together annually to show off their wares. There are often magnificent exhibits associated with the fair, and this year I had the pleasure of viewing firsthand a celebration of nonfiction children’s books from many parts of the globe, but (let’s be frank) mostly Europe. I saw inventive and creative takes on subjects done in a myriad number of ways, each book more tantalizing and interesting than the last. What did I not see? Some of the most rudimentary, necessary, and essential elements of a nonfiction book for children, almost certainly required in this day and age. In an era where fake news proliferates and facts are treated as permeable, American nonfiction for children has created a set of requirements that are rapidly becoming standardized. I’m talking about glossaries, backmatter, timelines, and (most important of all) a listing of sources. While global children’s nonfiction may look pretty, I’m very happy with what we’re churning out here stateside, and for good reason. When I see a book like Glitter Everywhere! by Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat, and I see the sheer levels of care and attention taken with not simply citing sources but establishing what can and cannot be confirmed as true, I feel a swell of joy and pride. I mean, this is a book about glitter, where it came from, the science behind it, and what’s it’s doing to the world today. But it’s also an example of the best kind of nonfiction we’re making for kids in this day and age. Children will come to this book for the sparkles. Grown-ups? Come to this book to find out how to make the best nonfiction for kids possible. Let this book be your guide.
Who loves glitter? Some people love it! Some people loathe it. But where does it come from? What’s its history, its science, and its future? Join Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat for a dive into glitter’s influence on the world. You’ll learn why it shines, why it sticks to us, and how it was used in the past. You’ll see how its current iteration was invented and the people who loved and embraced it from the start. Finally, you’ll see the damage it’s wrecking on the environment and the ways that we can embrace a stronger future, glitter or no glitter, for all.
I can’t think of glitter anymore without thinking of that Dmitri Martin one-off joke I heard years and years ago. It’s just a quick soundbite: “Glitter is the herpes of craft supplies.” You hear that and you instantly know what that means. Glitter, for all its charms, is the most beloved and most reviled substance on this earth. This immediately presents author Chris Barton with a problem. How the heck do you do an entire book something this divisive? Do you just plead ignorance and make everything about glitter seem wonderful? I can tell you right now that a good 90% of children’s book authors would have done exactly that. Rather than engage with the controversy, they would have swept the criticism under a proverbial rug. Barton? He’s sees it as a jumping off point. The very first page of this book reads, “Glitter is lots of things. Tiny. Clingy. Colorful. Loved. Not loved.” He’s addressed right from the start the complicated feelings it engenders. From there, he then branches off into a number of different directions. He looks at the science behind the glitter and the history. He makes it clear that for some communities, like drag performers dating back to the 1960s and Catholic LGBTQ+ churchgoers that get ashes mixed with purple glitter on Ash Wednesday, glitter has a larger place in this world. Yet he also is able to show precisely how it’s hurting our environment and how we need to find safer alternatives in the future. Heck, all this starts with a bookflap. Just the tiniest note appears in this book long before the story even starts. When you open the book you can read some descriptive copy on the book jacket, just under the cover. Then your eyes scan down and you see a small notation at the bottom behind an asterisk. It reads, “Spoiler alert! Traditional glitter can be bad for the planet. That’s why the jacket of this book uses a glitter lookalike.” I just want you to take a step back and appreciate that Barton is not only embracing this complexity, he respects our kids enough to give them a complicated book that shows all sides of an issues. For all that glitter sounds like a simple subject, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.
Years and years ago, Chris Barton created the world’s first biography, and I’m talking for kids or adults, of the guys who created Day-Glo colors. The Day-Glo Brothers was this awesome title done in a retro-James-Flora-esque style picture book. It was also an example of how a children’s book author can bend over backwards when it comes to doing their own original research. No information about these brothers had ever been collected, so it was up to Chris to conduct the interviews and go into the field finding the data he needed. It was the first book of his I ever read and I'll never forgot the sheer levels of care and attention poured into such a seemingly silly subject. In a very real way, a full 14 years later, I feel that Chris has finally created a true partner or companion to Day-Glo Brothers. Like that book, Glitter Everywhere takes something visual that we all take for granted and delves deep down into its background, origins, and importance. The two books complement one another perfectly, even after all these years. After all, while Chris had to track down family members to interview for Day-Glo, for Glitter he had to do similar research. First off, he had to figure out who even invented glitter. The story, it seems, begins squarely in New Jersey, first with a man named Henry F. Ruschmann and later with two fellows named Leonard Getler and Morris Kirshen. And if you look at the Bibliography at the back of the book, you can see that Barton has been inspecting patents, New Jersey State Industrial Directories, local New Jersey newspaper articles and more to get these facts straight.
More than that, Barton does something I’ve rarely seen an author for children try before. Remember how I said that he respects his young readers enough to be honest with them? That extends to the information he chooses to include. So he might mention that Henry F. Ruschmann invented glitter (which he called originally called “slivers”) but he’ll also include a small sidenote that “There’s just not a lot that we know about the man” so that’s why he always refers to him by his full name in the text. Barton wants to let kids into the process of doing good research. Later, he mentions that while he would have liked to have included the fact that ancient Egyptians crushed beetles to create their own glitter (a “fact” that is repeated all over the internet) he couldn’t track down a reputable source. “No matter how true an unsubstantiated ‘fact’ might sound, including it in a piece of writing makes it hard for readers to trust the rest of what that writer says.” His entire Authors’ Note is a kind of paean to research and getting a story right (even when it would be more fun to fudge the facts).
I read a lot of nonfiction picture book for kids these days. Enough to know when certain tendencies and trends become prominent. This year (2023) I’ve seen a great many fantastic titles, and they all follow a new format. The topic will be introduced, then the history. Science will be worked in there, sometimes in the beginning, sometimes punctuated throughout. The author will do a quick reminder of why we love the topic, and then they’ll move into its problems. This being the early part of the 21st century, those problems are usually environmental. Now the trick to this is that you need to give kids hope at the end. This is usually accomplished by making them aware of what it is that they can do to make a difference in the future. A call to action, if you will. Finally, you get some kind of a note from the book’s creators, and then as much backmatter as you can cram in. Glitter Everywhere follows this formula so well that it might as well be a template for other books. I was particularly impressed by not just the mention of its role historically with drag queens, and its importance to the gay community. Later, Barton goes in a very different direction and shows its links to the child labor industry, and how something even as seemingly innocent as glitter can have dark underpinnings if you dig even a little bit down. Light and dark in a single text, together.
Template or no, you can be the best writer in the world, but if the art isn’t complementing your text then you may as well forget about anyone appreciating your book sufficiently. Artist Chaaya Prabhat has done many a picture book before, but this is her first nonfiction title, so I was curious to see how she handled the material. To my great relief, she’s a natural. The text and images are constantly broken up on the page, so that your eye always rests in the right place with every page turn. Look at how the words appear within the art. Design-wise, I enjoyed the use of different colored fonts to distinguish between additional sidebar facts and the actual text. Chaaya is also very good at honoring Chris’s wishes when it comes to his sources. As I mentioned earlier, we don’t know much about Henry F. Rischmann, and I have to assume that extends to what he even looked like. With that in mind, Chaaya’s images of him are usually from behind, with him wearing a hat and coat. It keeps him present but not so well-defined that you’d be fooled into thinking you knew what he resembled.
Chris Barton isn’t here to yuck anybody’s yum. You love glitter? That’s fine! His book won’t seriously depress you on that fact. But what it will do is give you context and a little understanding that glitter, as cool as it is, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There are consequences that come with having it around. That’s why he ends on a hopeful note. “As we come up with better ways of glittering, our cleverness and creativity make us shine too. Our human ingenuity is as remarkable – and persistent! – as any glitter we can imagine.” Chris is making it clear that the kids reading this book have as much of a chance of figuring out how to make sustainable glitter as anyone else. It’s just a question of being inspired. And thanks to this amazing skills researching, explaining, and writing (to say nothing of getting paired with the perfect accompanying illustrator) there’s no one better to deliver that inspiration than Chris Barton. Shine one, Chris. Shine on.
Who loves glitter? Some people love it! Some people loathe it. But where does it come from? What’s its history, its science, and its future? Join Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat for a dive into glitter’s influence on the world. You’ll learn why it shines, why it sticks to us, and how it was used in the past. You’ll see how its current iteration was invented and the people who loved and embraced it from the start. Finally, you’ll see the damage it’s wrecking on the environment and the ways that we can embrace a stronger future, glitter or no glitter, for all.
I can’t think of glitter anymore without thinking of that Dmitri Martin one-off joke I heard years and years ago. It’s just a quick soundbite: “Glitter is the herpes of craft supplies.” You hear that and you instantly know what that means. Glitter, for all its charms, is the most beloved and most reviled substance on this earth. This immediately presents author Chris Barton with a problem. How the heck do you do an entire book something this divisive? Do you just plead ignorance and make everything about glitter seem wonderful? I can tell you right now that a good 90% of children’s book authors would have done exactly that. Rather than engage with the controversy, they would have swept the criticism under a proverbial rug. Barton? He’s sees it as a jumping off point. The very first page of this book reads, “Glitter is lots of things. Tiny. Clingy. Colorful. Loved. Not loved.” He’s addressed right from the start the complicated feelings it engenders. From there, he then branches off into a number of different directions. He looks at the science behind the glitter and the history. He makes it clear that for some communities, like drag performers dating back to the 1960s and Catholic LGBTQ+ churchgoers that get ashes mixed with purple glitter on Ash Wednesday, glitter has a larger place in this world. Yet he also is able to show precisely how it’s hurting our environment and how we need to find safer alternatives in the future. Heck, all this starts with a bookflap. Just the tiniest note appears in this book long before the story even starts. When you open the book you can read some descriptive copy on the book jacket, just under the cover. Then your eyes scan down and you see a small notation at the bottom behind an asterisk. It reads, “Spoiler alert! Traditional glitter can be bad for the planet. That’s why the jacket of this book uses a glitter lookalike.” I just want you to take a step back and appreciate that Barton is not only embracing this complexity, he respects our kids enough to give them a complicated book that shows all sides of an issues. For all that glitter sounds like a simple subject, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.
Years and years ago, Chris Barton created the world’s first biography, and I’m talking for kids or adults, of the guys who created Day-Glo colors. The Day-Glo Brothers was this awesome title done in a retro-James-Flora-esque style picture book. It was also an example of how a children’s book author can bend over backwards when it comes to doing their own original research. No information about these brothers had ever been collected, so it was up to Chris to conduct the interviews and go into the field finding the data he needed. It was the first book of his I ever read and I'll never forgot the sheer levels of care and attention poured into such a seemingly silly subject. In a very real way, a full 14 years later, I feel that Chris has finally created a true partner or companion to Day-Glo Brothers. Like that book, Glitter Everywhere takes something visual that we all take for granted and delves deep down into its background, origins, and importance. The two books complement one another perfectly, even after all these years. After all, while Chris had to track down family members to interview for Day-Glo, for Glitter he had to do similar research. First off, he had to figure out who even invented glitter. The story, it seems, begins squarely in New Jersey, first with a man named Henry F. Ruschmann and later with two fellows named Leonard Getler and Morris Kirshen. And if you look at the Bibliography at the back of the book, you can see that Barton has been inspecting patents, New Jersey State Industrial Directories, local New Jersey newspaper articles and more to get these facts straight.
More than that, Barton does something I’ve rarely seen an author for children try before. Remember how I said that he respects his young readers enough to be honest with them? That extends to the information he chooses to include. So he might mention that Henry F. Ruschmann invented glitter (which he called originally called “slivers”) but he’ll also include a small sidenote that “There’s just not a lot that we know about the man” so that’s why he always refers to him by his full name in the text. Barton wants to let kids into the process of doing good research. Later, he mentions that while he would have liked to have included the fact that ancient Egyptians crushed beetles to create their own glitter (a “fact” that is repeated all over the internet) he couldn’t track down a reputable source. “No matter how true an unsubstantiated ‘fact’ might sound, including it in a piece of writing makes it hard for readers to trust the rest of what that writer says.” His entire Authors’ Note is a kind of paean to research and getting a story right (even when it would be more fun to fudge the facts).
I read a lot of nonfiction picture book for kids these days. Enough to know when certain tendencies and trends become prominent. This year (2023) I’ve seen a great many fantastic titles, and they all follow a new format. The topic will be introduced, then the history. Science will be worked in there, sometimes in the beginning, sometimes punctuated throughout. The author will do a quick reminder of why we love the topic, and then they’ll move into its problems. This being the early part of the 21st century, those problems are usually environmental. Now the trick to this is that you need to give kids hope at the end. This is usually accomplished by making them aware of what it is that they can do to make a difference in the future. A call to action, if you will. Finally, you get some kind of a note from the book’s creators, and then as much backmatter as you can cram in. Glitter Everywhere follows this formula so well that it might as well be a template for other books. I was particularly impressed by not just the mention of its role historically with drag queens, and its importance to the gay community. Later, Barton goes in a very different direction and shows its links to the child labor industry, and how something even as seemingly innocent as glitter can have dark underpinnings if you dig even a little bit down. Light and dark in a single text, together.
Template or no, you can be the best writer in the world, but if the art isn’t complementing your text then you may as well forget about anyone appreciating your book sufficiently. Artist Chaaya Prabhat has done many a picture book before, but this is her first nonfiction title, so I was curious to see how she handled the material. To my great relief, she’s a natural. The text and images are constantly broken up on the page, so that your eye always rests in the right place with every page turn. Look at how the words appear within the art. Design-wise, I enjoyed the use of different colored fonts to distinguish between additional sidebar facts and the actual text. Chaaya is also very good at honoring Chris’s wishes when it comes to his sources. As I mentioned earlier, we don’t know much about Henry F. Rischmann, and I have to assume that extends to what he even looked like. With that in mind, Chaaya’s images of him are usually from behind, with him wearing a hat and coat. It keeps him present but not so well-defined that you’d be fooled into thinking you knew what he resembled.
Chris Barton isn’t here to yuck anybody’s yum. You love glitter? That’s fine! His book won’t seriously depress you on that fact. But what it will do is give you context and a little understanding that glitter, as cool as it is, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There are consequences that come with having it around. That’s why he ends on a hopeful note. “As we come up with better ways of glittering, our cleverness and creativity make us shine too. Our human ingenuity is as remarkable – and persistent! – as any glitter we can imagine.” Chris is making it clear that the kids reading this book have as much of a chance of figuring out how to make sustainable glitter as anyone else. It’s just a question of being inspired. And thanks to this amazing skills researching, explaining, and writing (to say nothing of getting paired with the perfect accompanying illustrator) there’s no one better to deliver that inspiration than Chris Barton. Shine one, Chris. Shine on.
January 21, 2024
If you know a young person maybe 11-16 interested in science and crafts and the environment/social justice, have them read this book.
December 19, 2023
This is one of the most interesting and informative picture books I’ve read in some time.
April 4, 2023
Love the history and science in this book. Also love glitter in general. I'd never read a book specifically about glitter before! Now I want to find more books about glitter.
April 2, 2024
We all love to shine because shiny things are eye-catching and appealing, but how do we sparkle responsibly? Glitter is clingy and colorful and it's everywhere because it is so clingy - it gets on our clothes, in our hair, and ends up in our oceans. Chris Barton gives a brief history of this polished pollutant from flitter to silvers to modern day eco-friendly glitter. "It's not magic, or fairy dust, or unicorn dandruff. It's science!" Much like LYRC choices of the past, such as The Crayon Man, The Marvelous Thing that Came From a Spring, and The Boo Boos that Changed the World, I think our readers will enjoy another extraordinary history of an ordinary thing.
July 25, 2023
I was really impressed with the depth and breadth of this picture book about glitter! Everything from history to ecological implications was covered. Charming illustrations and bold graphic design!
June 29, 2023
“Picture books are perfect” (you know me!) for presenting research findings, as Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat prove in this new stylish title, Glitter Everywhere! This picture book is about the origins of glitter, and it’s also a wonderful mentor text for young writers practicing research skills and learning about history.
Mr. Barton spent tons of time looking up facts, traveling to places like New Jersey, and visiting people who knew about the history of glitter. He compiled all his research into this fascinating, fun book for all learners. Glitter, flitter, mica, whatever you call it, it really is everywhere.
Chaaya Prabhat used her love of glitter to create colorful pages with sparkly special shapes and characters. If you don’t like glitter, you’ll still appreciate all the work that has been done to entice and engage readers. (Fun fact: no glitter was used in the creation of the actual book or its cover, so it’s okay to have the book in your home or library.)
The back matter is full of facts, further reading information, and a bibliography that you wouldn’t normally find in a children’s book. Glitter Everywhere is for everyone.
Recommended for school and home libraries, STEM and art classrooms, and reading/writing workshop spaces. This is a fabulous text for students (and their teachers).
5 Stars!
Mr. Barton spent tons of time looking up facts, traveling to places like New Jersey, and visiting people who knew about the history of glitter. He compiled all his research into this fascinating, fun book for all learners. Glitter, flitter, mica, whatever you call it, it really is everywhere.
Chaaya Prabhat used her love of glitter to create colorful pages with sparkly special shapes and characters. If you don’t like glitter, you’ll still appreciate all the work that has been done to entice and engage readers. (Fun fact: no glitter was used in the creation of the actual book or its cover, so it’s okay to have the book in your home or library.)
The back matter is full of facts, further reading information, and a bibliography that you wouldn’t normally find in a children’s book. Glitter Everywhere is for everyone.
Recommended for school and home libraries, STEM and art classrooms, and reading/writing workshop spaces. This is a fabulous text for students (and their teachers).
5 Stars!
September 3, 2023
Gorgeously illustrated but too chaotic for me. I’m in the minority as most reviewers are loving this book. Maybe my brain wasn’t ready for the chaotic way the science explanations were delivered, but this book seems to be above the intended audience. Would be great for middle school and high school art students. Also while I appreciate the text that talked about Indian children missing school to mine for mica ( component of glitter) and the climate change issues from microplastic ( glitter ) it took this joyful book towards a sad ending.
December 30, 2023
What a fascinating book! I must admit, I never stopped to think about the history of glitter. But now that I know, I'm truly amazed. I learned that we humans like shiny (iridescent) things. No one really knows why - but we have always incorporated shiny into our lives. Cave paintings included shiny elements. King Tut had shinies in his tomb made from beetle wings. So using glitter to enhance our lives isn't new - it just wasn't always called glitter. In the early 1900s, it was flitter. And made from mica, metal, and paper. But then the government needed mica, so a man named Henry F. Ruschmann began cutting up scraps of thin plastic and he called it -- slivers! Even though it wasn't called glitter, Ruschmann is considered the father of modern glitter. It was in 1963 that a company was founded called Glitterex. Apparently glitter was catchier than flitter or slivers.
The book examines not only the history of glitter but also the tiny size of each little speck and the many different things glitter is used for. It also discusses the fact that since most glitter is made out of plastic, it's not a friend of the environment. It can harm animals that eat it (although there is edible glitter available.) There are discussions of banning glitter but since we DO like shiny things -- it might be a better idea to try to find something to make glitter that doesn't harm the environment. But not mica -- mica mining is bad news for the kids in India forced to do it. Don't buy shiny things that include mica.
Some people love glitter; others are not big fans. I know that I have stopped purchasing greeting cards and wrapping paper that use glitter. Not because I dislike shiny but because I know it can't be recycled.
I learned so much from reading this book! I really liked how diligent Barton was with his research. He stresses that even if you have heard a story repeated many, many times that doesn't mean it is true. You have to find actual proof that the story is true before putting it into a book and claiming that it is a fact. (His example involves the use of shiny things in makeup that the Egyptians used - he couldn't find any evidence to support the claim.)
Fascinating read! Highly recommended! Great illustrations and the author uses very appealing writing that will make kids eager to read the book.
The book examines not only the history of glitter but also the tiny size of each little speck and the many different things glitter is used for. It also discusses the fact that since most glitter is made out of plastic, it's not a friend of the environment. It can harm animals that eat it (although there is edible glitter available.) There are discussions of banning glitter but since we DO like shiny things -- it might be a better idea to try to find something to make glitter that doesn't harm the environment. But not mica -- mica mining is bad news for the kids in India forced to do it. Don't buy shiny things that include mica.
Some people love glitter; others are not big fans. I know that I have stopped purchasing greeting cards and wrapping paper that use glitter. Not because I dislike shiny but because I know it can't be recycled.
I learned so much from reading this book! I really liked how diligent Barton was with his research. He stresses that even if you have heard a story repeated many, many times that doesn't mean it is true. You have to find actual proof that the story is true before putting it into a book and claiming that it is a fact. (His example involves the use of shiny things in makeup that the Egyptians used - he couldn't find any evidence to support the claim.)
Fascinating read! Highly recommended! Great illustrations and the author uses very appealing writing that will make kids eager to read the book.
July 21, 2023
A few years ago, the kids attending a July 1st story time at our library got to make an AWESOME craft that involved squirting swirls of glue on black construction paper, then dousing liberally with mounds of red and blue glitter. The resulting pictures looked like fireworks bursting in air, and proved to be a big hit. The kids then carried their prized artwork down the stairs, and out the front door. Some children even accompanied their parents into the main library and walked around the stacks.
Needless to say, our custodian was not pleased.
It took hours to clean up the shed glitter. Weeks even. In fact, I'm pretty sure I saw a sparkly blue morsel winking at me from the floor near the audio books just yesterday.
Glitter is truly a love it or hate it invention.
And, yes, even though you might not want to think about it, somebody took the time to invent glitter. Inspired by shiny beetles and mica, some people were moved to create their own shimmery specks. And, shimmery specks sell like seashells by the seashore.
Barton sure makes learnin' fun while explainin' iridescence and how it makes glitter sparkle, why we're drawn to it, the origins of the word "glitter," and even expounds on static electricity, and why it's so hard to give glitter the brush-off.
The illustrations by Chaaya Prabhat are a delight, and really give the book its sparkle.
This should be an iridescently irresistible choice for libraries everywhere.
I honestly can't wait to see what Barton decides to explain next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for sharing.
Needless to say, our custodian was not pleased.
It took hours to clean up the shed glitter. Weeks even. In fact, I'm pretty sure I saw a sparkly blue morsel winking at me from the floor near the audio books just yesterday.
Glitter is truly a love it or hate it invention.
And, yes, even though you might not want to think about it, somebody took the time to invent glitter. Inspired by shiny beetles and mica, some people were moved to create their own shimmery specks. And, shimmery specks sell like seashells by the seashore.
Barton sure makes learnin' fun while explainin' iridescence and how it makes glitter sparkle, why we're drawn to it, the origins of the word "glitter," and even expounds on static electricity, and why it's so hard to give glitter the brush-off.
The illustrations by Chaaya Prabhat are a delight, and really give the book its sparkle.
This should be an iridescently irresistible choice for libraries everywhere.
I honestly can't wait to see what Barton decides to explain next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for sharing.
July 27, 2023
Thank you to Charlesbridge for the digital review copy!
What a fascinating book! I learned so much more than I already knew about glitter, from the origins to what it's being made from these days. I really appreciated that it didn't gloss over the fact that glitter production and consumption can be unethical in a couple of ways, especially anything made from mica as much of it is mined through child labor. This may seem like a damper on an otherwise fun book, but it's a truth we need to be aware of, especially if we want to continue having glitter. Children today have a keen sense of justice and mindfulness, so it's not at all inappropriate to point out the dark side of one of the biggest--if not the biggest--industries in the world in an effort to make positive change.
I'd like to make a special reference to the Author's Note in the back of the book that mentions how easy it can be to get information wrong for a nonfiction book. For instance, the claims about Egyptians grinding beetles to make glitter are claims that the author just couldn't find any evidence for. There's also the warning of a danger of authors rephrasing a factual statement in a way they think is correct but actually makes it inaccurate--which tells me that there was a lot of care and attention put into making this book. That alone makes me recommend it. There's also a bibliography and For Future Reading list in the back, which is excellent for researchers and couch historians.
Of course, the illustrations are also just lovely to look at and I think the illustrator did a great job in trying to "recreate the magic of craft glitter" as they say, giving us a colorful rendition of what's being talked about on each page.
I fully agree that those who love glitter and those who hate glitter will appreciate this book.
What a fascinating book! I learned so much more than I already knew about glitter, from the origins to what it's being made from these days. I really appreciated that it didn't gloss over the fact that glitter production and consumption can be unethical in a couple of ways, especially anything made from mica as much of it is mined through child labor. This may seem like a damper on an otherwise fun book, but it's a truth we need to be aware of, especially if we want to continue having glitter. Children today have a keen sense of justice and mindfulness, so it's not at all inappropriate to point out the dark side of one of the biggest--if not the biggest--industries in the world in an effort to make positive change.
I'd like to make a special reference to the Author's Note in the back of the book that mentions how easy it can be to get information wrong for a nonfiction book. For instance, the claims about Egyptians grinding beetles to make glitter are claims that the author just couldn't find any evidence for. There's also the warning of a danger of authors rephrasing a factual statement in a way they think is correct but actually makes it inaccurate--which tells me that there was a lot of care and attention put into making this book. That alone makes me recommend it. There's also a bibliography and For Future Reading list in the back, which is excellent for researchers and couch historians.
Of course, the illustrations are also just lovely to look at and I think the illustrator did a great job in trying to "recreate the magic of craft glitter" as they say, giving us a colorful rendition of what's being talked about on each page.
I fully agree that those who love glitter and those who hate glitter will appreciate this book.
May 4, 2023
For generations, glitter has caught the attention of people all over the world. Its unique, iridescent properties are both intriguing and pleasing to the eye, and glitter has been found everywhere from tombs to cave paintings to clothing. Over time, the materials used to create glitter have changed, and instead of using natural elements like early humans once did, modern society has turned largely to microplastics. These materials are now known to adversely impact the environment, so humans must activate their ingenuity in order to continue celebrating their love of glitter in a responsible, sustainable way.
This narrative nonfiction picture book tells the story of glitter from its very beginnings to the future possibilities it holds. A charming and approachable narrator guides readers through the book, using accessible blocks of text to tell glitter's story. Alongside this narration, readers also find call-outs in different colored font that provides more detailed information about the object of focus. While the text is fascinating and takes readers on a global and historical tour of glitter and its myriad uses, the accompanying illustrations depict specific references from the text, and these are filled with color and expression. Young readers will love examining the detail on each page even if they are not yet prepared for the relative complexity of the text.
At the end of the book, readers will find a note from the author, suggestions for further reading, and a selected bibliography used in the creation of this story. Well-researched and highly thought provoking, this is a book that is sure to inspire conversation and debate among readers of all ages. This is an excellent addition to nonfiction library collections for elementary school-aged readers.
This narrative nonfiction picture book tells the story of glitter from its very beginnings to the future possibilities it holds. A charming and approachable narrator guides readers through the book, using accessible blocks of text to tell glitter's story. Alongside this narration, readers also find call-outs in different colored font that provides more detailed information about the object of focus. While the text is fascinating and takes readers on a global and historical tour of glitter and its myriad uses, the accompanying illustrations depict specific references from the text, and these are filled with color and expression. Young readers will love examining the detail on each page even if they are not yet prepared for the relative complexity of the text.
At the end of the book, readers will find a note from the author, suggestions for further reading, and a selected bibliography used in the creation of this story. Well-researched and highly thought provoking, this is a book that is sure to inspire conversation and debate among readers of all ages. This is an excellent addition to nonfiction library collections for elementary school-aged readers.
June 25, 2023
I received a copy of Glitter Everywhere in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.
"Glitter Everywhere!" is a shining example of how children's literature can blend education, entertainment, and environmental consciousness. Written with a unique combination of whimsy and scientific accuracy, the book makes learning about the production of glitter a fun and engaging experience.
The science behind the sparkle is broken down into easily digestible facts, as the book explores how glitter is made, making it captivating even for the most science-shy readers. Simultaneously, it never shies away from addressing the pressing environmental issues associated with glitter, striking a balance that is both enlightening and impactful.
This book is a valuable asset for homeschoolers, particularly those focusing on ocean or recycling unit studies. This book helps children understand the delicate balance of our ecosystems and the role they can play in maintaining it.
In conclusion, "Glitter Everywhere" is a gem of a book that combines fun, science, and environmental education. It empowers young readers with knowledge, fosters an appreciation for the natural world, and encourages mindful consumption habits. Not only would it be a brilliant addition to a homeschool curriculum, but it also stands as a must-read for all children navigating their way in this increasingly environmentally conscious world.
"Glitter Everywhere!" is a shining example of how children's literature can blend education, entertainment, and environmental consciousness. Written with a unique combination of whimsy and scientific accuracy, the book makes learning about the production of glitter a fun and engaging experience.
The science behind the sparkle is broken down into easily digestible facts, as the book explores how glitter is made, making it captivating even for the most science-shy readers. Simultaneously, it never shies away from addressing the pressing environmental issues associated with glitter, striking a balance that is both enlightening and impactful.
This book is a valuable asset for homeschoolers, particularly those focusing on ocean or recycling unit studies. This book helps children understand the delicate balance of our ecosystems and the role they can play in maintaining it.
In conclusion, "Glitter Everywhere" is a gem of a book that combines fun, science, and environmental education. It empowers young readers with knowledge, fosters an appreciation for the natural world, and encourages mindful consumption habits. Not only would it be a brilliant addition to a homeschool curriculum, but it also stands as a must-read for all children navigating their way in this increasingly environmentally conscious world.
June 29, 2023
I have always loved glitter and now I love Glitter Everywhere! Chris Barton and Chaya Prabhat took me on a fun-filled five-star magical history tour of the shiny stuff.
I have a personal connection to the inventor and after reading this bright book my memories are glimmering. In the 1980s, my brother Ron was the Property Caretaker at Meadowbrook Farm, the estate where his boss, Henry F. Ruschmann, invented modern glitter.
Ron never told me anything about the factory except for confirming my question about the building that it was located in. I met the owners, the Ruschmanns, once briefly in passing and they were friendly but I didn’t dare mention the G-word. I don’t know how much Ron knew, but I don’t think it was much.
I first learned about Meadowbrook Farm because our mom, who cashiered at the local supermarket, told us about employees from there. While she rang up their groceries, she noticed glitter on their clothes, in their hair and even on their eyelashes. As the book title says, they had Glitter Everywhere!
Until I read this book, I never knew much about modern glitter and I didn’t realize that I had met THE inventor. Thank you Chris and Chaya for shedding so much light on the history of Glitter Everywhere!
I have a personal connection to the inventor and after reading this bright book my memories are glimmering. In the 1980s, my brother Ron was the Property Caretaker at Meadowbrook Farm, the estate where his boss, Henry F. Ruschmann, invented modern glitter.
Ron never told me anything about the factory except for confirming my question about the building that it was located in. I met the owners, the Ruschmanns, once briefly in passing and they were friendly but I didn’t dare mention the G-word. I don’t know how much Ron knew, but I don’t think it was much.
I first learned about Meadowbrook Farm because our mom, who cashiered at the local supermarket, told us about employees from there. While she rang up their groceries, she noticed glitter on their clothes, in their hair and even on their eyelashes. As the book title says, they had Glitter Everywhere!
Until I read this book, I never knew much about modern glitter and I didn’t realize that I had met THE inventor. Thank you Chris and Chaya for shedding so much light on the history of Glitter Everywhere!
August 3, 2023
For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle
A shiny new read to add some sparkle to your day. While I don't personally care much for glitter, I found learning about it in this book fascinating. Great blend of information, engagement, and humor.
The illustrations are gorgeous. They deliver on all the sparkliness sans the actual glitter (love the use of glitter lookalike on the jacket) and nicely portray related scientific concepts.
The book explains what makes glitter so shiny, a short history of materials and uses, how modern glitter came about, the science of why it gets everywhere, and some environmental and ethical considerations and alternatives.
A great blending of history, science, and activism.
The Author's Note at the end demonstrates how much work goes into writing a nonfiction book (field visits, research, interviews, eating tasty glittery treats, etc.) and some considerations about fact-checking. A bonus lesson for older kids who may be interested in becoming writers or journalists. Also includes a Selected Bibliography of sources for learning more.
Well-written and fun. This is a great book for showing how fun reading nonfiction can be.
A shiny new read to add some sparkle to your day. While I don't personally care much for glitter, I found learning about it in this book fascinating. Great blend of information, engagement, and humor.
The illustrations are gorgeous. They deliver on all the sparkliness sans the actual glitter (love the use of glitter lookalike on the jacket) and nicely portray related scientific concepts.
The book explains what makes glitter so shiny, a short history of materials and uses, how modern glitter came about, the science of why it gets everywhere, and some environmental and ethical considerations and alternatives.
A great blending of history, science, and activism.
The Author's Note at the end demonstrates how much work goes into writing a nonfiction book (field visits, research, interviews, eating tasty glittery treats, etc.) and some considerations about fact-checking. A bonus lesson for older kids who may be interested in becoming writers or journalists. Also includes a Selected Bibliography of sources for learning more.
Well-written and fun. This is a great book for showing how fun reading nonfiction can be.
March 12, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Barton's 2009 Day-Glo Brothers is such a fun title that I knew I would have to pick up this sparkling tome. Learning about objects in daily life is always fascinating, and I'm sure that middle school students will find this book to be very attractive. This is a nice history of glitter (or flitter, as it was called at one time), starting with natural sources like mica and beetles, and continuing on the the development after World War II of plastic glitter. I'm glad that Henry F. Ruschmann of Bernardsville, New Jersey gets a full-name shout out, although I was a little appalled to learn that modern glitter was created perilously close to my childhood. I also loved the discussions about microplastics; I was always leery of plastic craft supplies and bought very little that was glittery for my own children, and could not find a single glittery object to use to stage this book for Instagram. While I definitely find myself in the anti-glitter camp, this is a fascinating book that elementary and middle school libraries will want to purchase. I read somewhere that the cover didn't use plastic glitter because of the environmental concerns!
Barton's 2009 Day-Glo Brothers is such a fun title that I knew I would have to pick up this sparkling tome. Learning about objects in daily life is always fascinating, and I'm sure that middle school students will find this book to be very attractive. This is a nice history of glitter (or flitter, as it was called at one time), starting with natural sources like mica and beetles, and continuing on the the development after World War II of plastic glitter. I'm glad that Henry F. Ruschmann of Bernardsville, New Jersey gets a full-name shout out, although I was a little appalled to learn that modern glitter was created perilously close to my childhood. I also loved the discussions about microplastics; I was always leery of plastic craft supplies and bought very little that was glittery for my own children, and could not find a single glittery object to use to stage this book for Instagram. While I definitely find myself in the anti-glitter camp, this is a fascinating book that elementary and middle school libraries will want to purchase. I read somewhere that the cover didn't use plastic glitter because of the environmental concerns!
July 5, 2023
🤍Children’s Book Review Ft My Daughter🤍
📖Glitter Everywhere By Chris Barton📖
Rating ~ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our Thoughts ~ super fun and colorful yet VERY informative. We went into the book thinking it would be a short and sweet book about glitter and at the end what we got out of it was a lot of knowledge about glitter, that originally we didn’t have any idea about. The book focuses on science and facts as well as the history behind glitter. The book made educational things fun.It was fascinating and my daughter was very interested in learning more. It is a bit complex for her age group but we definitely enjoyed the book.
Blurb
If you love glitter, this book is for you. If you hate glitter, this book is also for you.
Everyone seems to have an opinion about glitter. But how much do you know about the tiny, shiny confetti? What makes glitter glitter? Why does it stick to everything? Who invented it? How is it made? Is glitter bad for the environment?
Chris Barton’s informative wit and Chaaya Prabhat's vibrant art make Glitter Everywhere sparkle as it covers the good, the bad, and shiny of all things glitter.
📖Glitter Everywhere By Chris Barton📖
Rating ~ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our Thoughts ~ super fun and colorful yet VERY informative. We went into the book thinking it would be a short and sweet book about glitter and at the end what we got out of it was a lot of knowledge about glitter, that originally we didn’t have any idea about. The book focuses on science and facts as well as the history behind glitter. The book made educational things fun.It was fascinating and my daughter was very interested in learning more. It is a bit complex for her age group but we definitely enjoyed the book.
Blurb
If you love glitter, this book is for you. If you hate glitter, this book is also for you.
Everyone seems to have an opinion about glitter. But how much do you know about the tiny, shiny confetti? What makes glitter glitter? Why does it stick to everything? Who invented it? How is it made? Is glitter bad for the environment?
Chris Barton’s informative wit and Chaaya Prabhat's vibrant art make Glitter Everywhere sparkle as it covers the good, the bad, and shiny of all things glitter.
June 4, 2023
It feels as if everyone loves glitter or at least things that gleam and shine, on cards and decorations, on eyeshadow and clothing. What's a favorite for you?
Chris Barton writes all about glitter in this book and Chasya Prabhat follows along with intriguing and various ways to illustrate. Who knew there was so much to learn, like who invented it, the materials used to make it, how to save materials used by changing glitter to square pieces, and more? One area shows the fascination with glittery looks that trace back to ancient times, that derived from certain insects. And there evidently were some places that fussed with the name. It was NOT always "glitter". Most of all, there is one part that explains how some glitter is bad for our environment. There is much more info in the backmatter, including a very glittery back page! Imagine reading with students in a class and then, glitter art! It's an entertaining and informative book!
Thanks to Charlesbridge for this copy!
Chris Barton writes all about glitter in this book and Chasya Prabhat follows along with intriguing and various ways to illustrate. Who knew there was so much to learn, like who invented it, the materials used to make it, how to save materials used by changing glitter to square pieces, and more? One area shows the fascination with glittery looks that trace back to ancient times, that derived from certain insects. And there evidently were some places that fussed with the name. It was NOT always "glitter". Most of all, there is one part that explains how some glitter is bad for our environment. There is much more info in the backmatter, including a very glittery back page! Imagine reading with students in a class and then, glitter art! It's an entertaining and informative book!
Thanks to Charlesbridge for this copy!
September 19, 2024
Didn't realize this was a nonfiction title, so it took me a while to pick it up. However, it goes back to how beetles and mica were used for their glitter effect. How mica, metal and paper were used together as flitter in the early 1900s. Glitter is still made on the farm where Ruschmann first made glitter or slivers as he called them. Talks about how the attractiveness of glitter has led to it being everywhere, to the negative charge that makes it difficult to clean up, to the toll of it on the environment. How glitter is now made biodegradable, though some manufacturers have been found to be lying and some biodegradable still harms aquatic life. Also, talks how mica is not a great choice due to the child labort used to mine it. (People should research their makeup and buy responsibly.) Shellac is also mentioned as an alternative.
In the Author's Note Barton mentions he couldn't find any evidence that ancient Egyptians ground beetles to make a glittery powder or used them to make makeup.
In the Author's Note Barton mentions he couldn't find any evidence that ancient Egyptians ground beetles to make a glittery powder or used them to make makeup.
September 26, 2023
Glitter lovers, this book is for you! Well-organized and engaging, Barton takes the reader through what makes it sparkle, and why humans might like sparkly things. We learn about iridescent beetles and ancient Egyptians, where Mica comes from, and how it was used in art and even fabrics. Barton covers the history of glitter in the US, and the factories that produced it. We learn the improvements to glitter today and even discover that there is edible glitter. There are tips for getting it out of your hair and concerns about microplastic and its effect on aquatic animals and other environmental problems.
Full of informative text, this non-fiction dive into the world of glitter is better recommended for upper elementary. I loved the illustrations - I sort of expected the book to be very glittery, and it wasn't, and that was totally ok. I'll enjoy recommending this to my middle school readers as well as the upper elementary crowd. Everyone loves glitter! Right?
Full of informative text, this non-fiction dive into the world of glitter is better recommended for upper elementary. I loved the illustrations - I sort of expected the book to be very glittery, and it wasn't, and that was totally ok. I'll enjoy recommending this to my middle school readers as well as the upper elementary crowd. Everyone loves glitter! Right?
June 10, 2023
As the reigning glitter queen in my school (who DOESN"T love a little sparkle in their lives???) I was thrilled to see this book being offered for review. It was super fun to read and as a Jersey girl, when I found out that New Jersey is the "home" of glitter, my connection to all things shiny made sense.
The book talks about the history of glitter and traces its progression to more modern versions, as well as variations from around the world, Reading the e-book, I couldn't see if anything is actually glittery but I'm imagining it so... and thus know that I will be picking up a hard copy at the first opportunity!
Thank you to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
The book talks about the history of glitter and traces its progression to more modern versions, as well as variations from around the world, Reading the e-book, I couldn't see if anything is actually glittery but I'm imagining it so... and thus know that I will be picking up a hard copy at the first opportunity!
Thank you to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
January 5, 2024
First, glitter is microplastic! It is a pollutant. It is bad.
Also, people love glitter! It is fun. It is festive.
I appreciate Chris Barton's casual, approachable tone in this book. There are lots of fun asides and a great author's note about his research process. For example, he could not confirm that Egyptians ground up shiny beetles to make shimmery powder.
It would have been easier and understandable to write a doom and gloom book about how glitter is an environmental scourge. Instead, this book celebrates the fun side of glitter and also encourages young readers to think about how we can do better without sacrificing the sparkle.
Also, people love glitter! It is fun. It is festive.
I appreciate Chris Barton's casual, approachable tone in this book. There are lots of fun asides and a great author's note about his research process. For example, he could not confirm that Egyptians ground up shiny beetles to make shimmery powder.
It would have been easier and understandable to write a doom and gloom book about how glitter is an environmental scourge. Instead, this book celebrates the fun side of glitter and also encourages young readers to think about how we can do better without sacrificing the sparkle.
January 19, 2024
Glitter is one of those things - love or hate it - most people have strong feelings about. And even when we hate it, there's no denying our natural attraction to those sparkly bits. Chris Barton takes us through the history of glitter (bugs, mica, and more), the more modern inventors and innovators of glitter, and into the ramifications and future of glitter. It's bright and colorful, but also smart and thoughtful. Sure to catch kids' attention.
Read as a recommendation among the children's non-fiction titles as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
Read as a recommendation among the children's non-fiction titles as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
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