Leslie Massey
There are several books that feature rainbows in their storylines. One such book is Rainbow Bird: An Aboriginal Folktale from Northern Australia, authored by Eric Maddern and illustrated by Adrienne Kennaway, It is a story about how fire was discovered and shared with the world. Another book is What Makes a Rainbow?, authored by Betty Ann Schwartz and illustrated by Dona Turner, which teaches children about the basic science behind rainbows.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | What Makes a Rainbow? |
| Author | Betty Ann Schwartz |
| Illustrator | Cally Johnson-Isaacs |
| Publisher | ABDO Publishing Company |
| Format | Magic Ribbon Book, Mini edition |
| Target Audience | Children, Early Readers |
| Theme | Science, Colours, Joy, Positivity, Kindness |
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What You'll Learn
The science behind rainbows
Rainbows are one of nature's most mesmerising phenomena, captivating people of all ages with their vibrant colours and ethereal beauty. The science behind this captivating phenomenon is equally fascinating.
Rainbows are an optical phenomenon, a result of the interaction between sunlight and water droplets in the atmosphere. When sunlight passes through these droplets, it undergoes refraction, reflection, and dispersion, creating the spectrum of colours we see in a rainbow. This dispersion separates the light into its various colours, with each colour having a different wavelength. The colours of the rainbow, in order of increasing wavelength, are typically remembered using the acronym ROYGBIV: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.
To observe a rainbow, the sun must be behind the observer, and the water droplets in front. Sunlight enters the droplet, refracts, or bends, off the surface, and then reflects off the inside of the droplet. This reflection causes the light to disperse into its component colours. These colours then exit the droplet at different angles, creating the arc of the rainbow. The rainbow's arc always appears opposite to the sun, with the centre of the circle located directly behind the observer.
The size of the water droplets also influences the appearance of a rainbow. Smaller droplets tend to produce brighter, more vibrant rainbows, while larger droplets can lead to duller rainbows with less distinct colours. Double rainbows, a truly magical sight, occur when sunlight undergoes two internal reflections within the water droplets, creating two distinct arcs and a darker band in between known as Alexander's band.
The study of rainbows, or "spectrum analysis," has played a significant role in various scientific fields. It has contributed to our understanding of light and its properties, leading to advancements in optics and physics. Additionally, the analysis of light spectra from distant stars and galaxies has enabled astronomers to gain insights into the composition, temperature, and velocity of celestial objects, expanding our knowledge of the universe.
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Aboriginal folklore
In the Dreamtime, when the world was being born, fire belonged solely to Crocodile Man. He guarded it jealously, refusing to share it with the other animals or people. They had no warmth or light and had to eat their food raw. They begged Crocodile Man for fire, but he only laughed and growled, "I'm boss for Fire!"
Bird Woman, also known as the Rainbow Bird, felt sorry for those who lacked light and warmth. She knew she could never overpower the fierce Crocodile Man, so she patiently watched and waited. Finally, Crocodile Man opened his jaws to yawn, and in that moment, Bird Woman flashed down, snatched the firesticks, and flew around the country, putting fire into the heart of every tree. From that day on, people could create flames from dry wood.
To celebrate, Bird Woman put the firesticks into her tail, and she became the beautiful Rainbow Bird. The Rainbow Bird is a reminder that we all have gifts and that these gifts should be shared. The story also teaches the importance of patience, courage, and quick thinking in overcoming obstacles and bringing light and warmth to the world.
Another significant figure in Aboriginal folklore is the Rainbow Serpent. There are many names and stories associated with this serpentine deity, all of which highlight its importance within Aboriginal traditions. The Rainbow Serpent is often considered a creator-being, responsible for shaping the landscape and imparting knowledge to humans.
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Rainbows and positivity
Rainbows are a symbol of positivity, and this is reflected in children's literature. The book "How Do You Make a Rainbow?" by Caroline Crowe and illustrated by Cally Johnson-Isaacs is a joyful story that celebrates love, positivity, and the relationship between a child and their grandad. In the story, a little girl stuck inside on a cloudy day asks her grandad to help her paint a rainbow in the sky. The grandad explains that rainbows are not painted but are made with hope, kindness, and helping others. The story is a heart-warming celebration of community and nature, reminding readers that brighter times are always ahead.
Another book with a similar theme is "What Makes a Rainbow?" by Betty Ann Schwartz. This book teaches children about colours and the basic science behind rainbows in an engaging way. The story follows a young bunny and his mother caught in a summer rainstorm. The bunny wants to know why his mother predicts a rainbow will appear and is told to ask all the other animals "what makes a rainbow?". Each animal answers with a different colour, and the book illustrates each page in shades of that colour, helping children build a rainbow.
"What Makes a Rainbow?" is also the title of a Magic Ribbon Book by Betty Schwartz and Dona Turner. This book uses ribbons to teach children about the colours that make up a rainbow. As the reader turns the page, a new colour ribbon is added, and by the end, a full rainbow is revealed. The book also shows other objects of the same colour. This interactive book is a great way to teach children about colours and is a popular choice for baby showers and gifts.
These books use rainbows as a way to teach children about colours and the science behind them, but also as a metaphor for finding joy and positivity in everyday life. They emphasise the importance of love, friendship, community, and nature in bringing colour and happiness to our lives.
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Interactive reading
The Magic Ribbon Book edition of 'What Makes a Rainbow?' features colourful ribbons that stretch across the pages, allowing children to help build a rainbow as they turn each page and discover a new colour. This tactile element makes the reading experience interactive and engaging, encouraging children to explore and learn about colours in a multisensory way.
The story follows a curious young bunny who, caught in a summer rainstorm with his mother, wonders why she predicts a rainbow will appear. She suggests he ask his friends, and as the bunny does so, each animal responds with a colour that makes up the rainbow. The book's illustrations reinforce the colours mentioned, with each page predominantly featuring the shade of the colour introduced, helping children associate words with their visual representation.
The interactive elements of this book extend beyond the ribbons, as children can also enjoy predicting the colours that will be mentioned and searching for objects in the illustrations that match those colours. This encourages active participation and critical thinking while also developing colour recognition skills.
'What Makes a Rainbow?' is more than just a book about colours, however. It also introduces early scientific concepts about the appearance of rainbows, providing a foundation for further exploration and learning. The story's emphasis on curiosity, exploration, and the joy of discovery makes it a perfect tool for educators and parents to spark curiosity and encourage interactive learning.
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Rainbows in art
Rainbows have been a source of fascination and inspiration for artists throughout history, often associated with joy, hope, and natural beauty. The vibrant spectrum of colours in a rainbow provides a rich palette for artistic expression, and its symbolic significance adds depth and meaning to artworks.
In literature, rainbows often serve as a metaphor for optimism and resilience in the face of adversity. For example, the children's book "How Do You Make a Rainbow?" by Caroline Crowe, illustrated by Cally Johnson-Isaacs, tells a heartwarming story of a little girl who, on a cloudy day, asks her grandad to help her paint a rainbow in the sky. Grandad explains that rainbows are not painted but are born from kindness, hope, and helping others. This book beautifully showcases how rainbows can symbolise finding colour and positivity in life, even during grey and gloomy times.
Another book titled "What Makes a Rainbow?" by Betty Ann Schwartz (also known as Betty Schwarts), is a magical ribbon book that teaches young children about colours and the basic science behind rainbows. In the story, a curious bunny sets out to discover what makes a rainbow, and each animal it meets contributes a different colour. The book features colourful ribbons that stretch across the pages, creating a rainbow effect that captivates and engages young readers.
In Aboriginal folklore from Northern Australia, the "Rainbow Bird" or "Rainbow Serpent" holds significant cultural importance. The tale describes how a determined bird, often depicted as a parrot or a rainbow-coloured bird, brings fire to mankind by taking it from the greedy Crocodile or Crocodile Man, who guarded it jealously. This courageous act enables people to make fire from dry wood, and the bird is celebrated for its selfless contribution to humanity.
Beyond literature, visual artists have also drawn inspiration from the captivating beauty of rainbows. Artists may use the vibrant colours of the rainbow to create striking compositions or symbolic representations. Rainbows can symbolise unity, diversity, and the inclusion of all colours, just as a rainbow encompasses a spectrum of hues. Moreover, the transient nature of rainbows, appearing fleetingly after a storm, can inspire artistic reflections on the ephemeral nature of beauty and the importance of cherishing life's fleeting moments of colour and light.
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Frequently asked questions
The Rainbow Bird is an Aboriginal folktale from Northern Australia that explains how man came to possess fire. In the story, Crocodile (or Crocodile Man) is the sole owner of fire and refuses to share it with anyone. One day, a bird (Bird Woman or Parrot) snatches the firestick from the crocodile and puts fire into the heart of every tree. The bird becomes rainbow-colored in the process.
The Rainbow Bird book is suitable for children aged 3 to 8 years old.
The "What Makes a Rainbow?" Magic Ribbon Book is a colorful book that teaches young children about colors and the basic science behind rainbows. It features pop-outs and colored ribbons that connect the pages. The story follows a bunny who is curious about what makes a rainbow and goes on a journey to find the answer.
The "What Makes a Rainbow?" Magic Ribbon Book is written by Betty Ann Schwartz and illustrated by Dona Turner.
