♦ “Friction happens anytime one surface moves against another.”
That clear definition is just the start; Ramirez shows friction lurking in unexpected places: When we rub the sleep from our eyes, when we eat breakfast and brush our teeth after, and whenever we “run, walk, skip, or jump.” Wheels are slowed by friction, hands are “marvels of friction,” and we couldn’t play sports without it. Sandpaper, crayons, rakes, violin bows—all objects that would never work in a world without friction. Laden with clever turn of phrases and child-friendly examples, Ramirez’s explanations neatly expand readers’ understanding of the topic while demonstrating that science truly is all around us (consider this the perfect answer to the age-old question “When are we going to use this in real life?”). Smith’s thick-lined, retro depictions of a lively Black child bring the examples to life. The artist has devised an especially clever way of making this invisible phenomenon feel concrete: A magenta-and-yellow mini-explosion draws the eye to where friction is happening, simultaneously suggesting its level of energy. The final pages suggest a couple of simple, fun experiments, notably biting into a sweet, piece of wintergreen candy, which should produce bright sparks—triboluminescence in action! Spurred by this enthusiastic book, readers will brush more alertly against instances of friction all around them.
Physics with minimal mental friction—and maximum pleasure.
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
