We Carry the Sun
by Tae Keller; illus. by Rachel Wada
Primary, Intermediate    Norton    48 pp.
6/25    9781324031123    $18.99

Thousands of years ago, humans gathered under the sun’s rays for immediate heat. Then they began constructing homes that faced south to take advantage of that warmth. But could they carry that temperature inside and create permanent comfort? Such questions eventually led to the development of solar energy as early as the turn of the twentieth century, a noble if complicated effort that was often plagued by high costs and ineffectiveness but that is rapidly advancing and improving in modern times: “The sky is the limit.” Starting in Britain in the mid-eighteenth century, the introduction of cheap fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution had produced energy, but, as Keller (most recently Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone, rev. 5/22) points out, individuals soon began questioning their use and the damaging cost to the environment. Scientists persisted by challenging the status quo and modifying solar models. Thumbnail sketches of individuals from around the globe and their contributions in producing cost-effective solar energy reflect a major theme: ideas grow “with people bouncing off one another like photons, teaching and inspiring, listening and learning.” Full-bleed illustrations, both informative (such as the depiction of the first solar home) and bold (as shown in the extraction of oil), enhance Keller’s compelling, poetic text in this, her first nonfiction picture book. Wada’s use of light (symbolically bursting across the pages as ideas are born) and dark (showing pollution and stagnation) further complements the narrative. Back matter consists of an author’s note; a solar energy timeline; and, in keeping with the theme that ideas start with “wondering, thinking, building,” sources for further study.

From the July/August 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.