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TECHNOLOGY
Theule, Larissa

Glass: Looking In, Looking Out

48 pp. | Candlewick | February, 2026 | Trade ISBN 9781536225839 $18.99
(1) K-3 Illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov. “Every day, we rely on glass in big and small ways, but we usually don’t pay attention to it. We mostly look through glass, not at it.” Theule (Concrete, rev. 9/22) presents a survey of the history of glass, beginning with its prehistoric origins, specific makeup, and unique properties. We learn that the invention of glass-blowing in the early first century CE represented an important milestone, with other developments and innovations eventually following: windows (including the ­beautiful stained-glass windows that adorn many places of ­worship), eyeglasses, telescopes, and microscopes. The engaging text then covers the more recent use of fiberglass to insulate buildings, tempered glass on solar panels to conserve energy, and fiber-optic cables for high-speed data transmission. And, since the construction of the Crystal Palace in 1851 for London’s Great Exhibition, glass has been an important element in modern architecture. A wide range of historical periods and artifacts is presented, and the brisk pacing of the ­narrative, with flashes of humor, is extremely effective. In Tentler-Krylov’s (illustrator of Love Is Hard Work, rev. 11/24) dynamic and varied watercolor illustrations, characters -- from ancient humans poring over accidentally created glass to a modern-day child using a smartphone --occasionally add information and (fictional) commentary by way of speech bubbles. This thorough overview will satisfy curious young readers (and likely extend the knowledge of some adults too). A ­bibliography is appended.
Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2026

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