Raising the awareness of any reader who's ever switched on a light or wondered what those wires above the street are, Suen traces the long "dance" of electrons from a (water-driven) generator to a home's plugs, lamps and computer screens. Linked by lines of poem -- "Humming, thrumming, / power's coming / in the wires / from big to small / to power it all" -- her commentary offers simple but specific descriptions of how, for instance, step-up and step-down transformers work, what ground wires and circuit breakers do and even what's behind those ubiquitous switch plates. With help from occasional discreet labels, Carrick's realistic, low-relief collages follow wires over transmission towers and wooden poles, down through electric meters and cutaway walls. Suen closes with a list of safety tips and, for children curious about topics she doesn't cover, such as difference between volts and amps, or AC and DC, a handful of print and online resources. Audiences who find Joanna Cole's Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip, illus by Bruce Degen (1997), too busy to absorb may come away from this more linear approach with a clearer idea of what powers their everyday infrastructure.

This introduction to electricity traces the path of electrons from the power station to electronic devices used in the home. A series of spreads with a few paragraphs of text describes each stage along the way. This progression works well, covering the physical implements and machines as well as general scientific concepts. The important role of transformers, for example, emerges in a logical way, reinforcing the key concept that electricity is an energy that can be controlled and guided. Acrylic mixed-media illustrations are informative, with clear labels to identify specific components. The uncrowded layout and three-dimensional look are especially effective. Each spread leads neatly into the next one, so the visual flow is uninterrupted. Readers see wires reaching the electric meter, then a page turn shows that meter close up, while the subsequent spread reveals the inside wires moving out from the meter. A few descriptions are oversimplified, but a glossary fills in needed details. Joanna Cole's The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip (Scholastic, 1997) and Barbara Seuling's Flick a Switch (Holiday House, 2003) cover more ground, and Molly Bang's My Light (Scholastic, 2004) is more visually dazzling, but this title succeeds with its carefully focused approach. By sticking consistently to the topic of how electricity reaches the home without trying to cover history, trivia, or more complex science, the fundamental information comes through in an appealing way that kids can fully understand.

In this picture book for elementary students, Suen covers the basics of how electricity moves from power plant to cozy, lamp-lit home. The text works on two levels. Each spread features short paragraphs that present definitions in clear language: "Electricity is electrons on the move." A few words, in larger print, appear on each page, and when read aloud create a bouncing rhyme that seems aimed at children younger than the audience for the science and the pictures. The mixed-media art illustrates the concepts with mixed success. Some spreads, such as one explaining how power is "stepped down" at a transformer, need more detail to help kids full envision what the words describe. Most successful are the scenes of long lines reaching across landscapes, demonstrating that power is generated far away and travels great distances before it is used. There aren't many titles that explain electricity for this age group; recommend this one with some of the other books in the appended reading list. A glossary and power safety tips conclude.

Ever wonder what an electric transformer really does? Or what the difference is between 110-volt and 220-volt appliances? Do you really understand how electricity is produced, or do you just gloss over the details because you really aren’t sure? Wired is unique in that it can support basic technological literacy in both students and teachers.

Along the top of the page is a very simple presentation of how electricity is produced, conducted, and the steps it takes until it is used in the home. The illustrations are great, with lots of labels. Along with these are paragraphs of detailed explanation for the reader/teacher that explain electricity in simplistic, understandable terms. This background for upper-elementary level children as well as teachers makes electricity and its production understandable.

From the beginning, where electricity is explained as electrons moving and dancing in circles to create electricity, to the last pages, where electricity is used in computers, the reader is guided through technical topics that are explained in a comprehensible way. For example, making a switch work with the three incoming wires and the use of wire nuts breaks the concept down into meaningful and understandable parts. Also included is a page on how to be smart with power as well as two websites and four books to find out more. An extensive glossary and index are also included.

Electricity is often a subject elementary teachers try to avoid. This book makes the concepts understandable and provides the background to help teachers help their students understand these concepts as well as comprehend those concepts themselves. It could be used for some group reading to support activities and then placed in a center or reference corner for further reading (because most students would need to cover the material several times to really comprehend these concepts). This is the best book I have seen on this topic, and I highly recommend it. I plan to reread it several times myself, in fact, to make sure I’m fully knowledgeable when we work on this unit in the fall.

A combination of simple rhyming text along with detailed paragraphs, this book explains the process of creating electricity and bringing it from the power plant to the house. The rhyming text is at the top and is a very short summary of each step in the process. At the bottom of each page is a very detailed explanation that is written at a level older elementary students could understand. The rhyming text could be used to show students how to summarize, and the detailed text could be used to show students how to explain the process through their own writing. The rhyming text also would be useful to help students remember the process/ Coloful illustrations help explain the text. Wired is a useful book to read when learning about electricity.

A clear expository text and meticulous, acrylic mixed-media illustrations with a good measure of photo-realism uncover the marvel of household electricity by demonstrating how energy is generated at the power plant, transformed and carried across high-voltage lines, and delivered to neighborhoods and homes.

"Wired" offers a two-layer look at how electricity enters our homes. A rhyming chant in large print conveys the sense of energy--"Humming, thrumming/power's coming"--in a way accessible to preschoolers. Page turns are driven by the rhythmic, irresistible momentum. Each spread also contains a paragraph in regular type explaining one step of electricity's journey from the power plant at a dam to the reader's lamp, clock, or computer. Along the way, readers get a glimpse into turbine, transformer, breaker box, and so on. At the end, a page of safety tips headed "Be smart about power!" and references to other children's books offer further information. Particularly useful is a combined glossary/index that defines terms and lists the pages on which they occur. Paintings appear to pop off the page--effect achieved by photographing 3-D art. It's an appealing and appropriate way to illustrate a book that's both informative and enjoyable. --Paula Morrow

Finally, after reading Anastasia Suen’s Wired, I was reminded yet again of how valuable nonfiction picture books truly are. This patiently written step-by-step overview of electricity’s journey from dam to living room light switch is truly a brilliant book. Suen completely demystifies the process making it clear to even the least technologically inclined. There is a lot of new vocabulary here, but no word is casually used. Readers will easily understand atoms, electrons, generators, power plants and transformers. Suen makes sure you “get it” before she moves on. Paul Carrick’s three dimensional illustrations help as well by providing inside views of critical points, literally following the text (and the electrical journey) each step of the way. It’s so easy to understand what’s going on here that I found myself getting excited about a book on electricity. (Something I honestly never would have believed was possible.) No bells and whistles or cute characters can be found in Wired, just straightforward solid science. It will work for readers of any age (and I mean that -- confused adults can learn a lot here), but for that specific child already intent on taking apart small appliances, it will be a treasure. As for homeschoolers, it’s a no-brainer. If ever there was a book for a curious child, this is the one.

Wired by Anastasia Suen is a physical science book for students related to electricity. The book starts out explaining the importance of electrons and describing how electricity is made at the power plant. It then goes on to explain the different types of vehicles used to transport electricity to surrounding areas and cities (transformer towers, feeder lines, secondary wires, etc.). As one reads the book, he or she can see that the author is explaining the process of how electricity is created and moved to other places step by step. The pictures start out showing the power plant, and end up illustrating the ways electricity is used around the house in lamps, computers, breakers, and more. The book ends with a few tips for children on how to “Be Smart About Power!” and lists some websites and other book resources where children can find out more about electricity.

Curriculum Connections: Wired is a great resource to help upper elementary school students learn about an important part of physical science, electricity, because its describes in great detail about how electricity is created and how it transports to different places, while still being fun with its illustrations and catchy subtitles throughout (”Lamps glow, heaters blow” [p. 24], “Clocks tick, computers click" [p.26]). I feel that this book might be difficult for some lower elementary school students to understand as some of the words might be difficult for them to read, and some of the concepts might still be a bit advanced for them as well.