The Day-Glo Brothers:
The True Story of Bob
and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors
Chris Barton
Illustrated by: Tony
Persiani
Published by: Charlesbridge
Copyright 2009
44 Pages
Invention, Science,
Art, Color, Siblings
Having my own fascination
with bright day-glo type colors led me to reading this neat story about how
those colors came to be. Joe and Bob Switzer were polar opposites when it came
to temperament; Joe loved magic tricks and show business while Bob was obsessed
with planning. The brothers realized that using a black light for its
fluorescent glow could enhance chemically altered paints into bright, lively
colors. The most creative aspect of the story is how the illustrator uses dull
black and white with simple tones of colors until the story develops and the
brothers begin to figure out the correct recipes where the illustrations
seemingly come to life.
Reading Level
Ages 7-10, Lexile
Measure: 990L
Suggested Delivery
Read Aloud
Electronic Resources
Visit the official
Chris Barton website and have your class explore more about the author. Be sure
to sign up for his newsletter for a chance to win a free book!
This is the official
Glo-Run website. Use this website to show just how far the colors that the
Switzer brothers discovered have come. Use this site as a catalyst and
encrougage students to create their own Day-Glo party or fun run at school.
Key Vocabulary
·
Illuminating – Providing light
·
Seizures – A medical condition that suddenly and
violently causes people to convulse.
·
Fluorescence – The emission of radiation,
especially of visible light, by a substance during exposure to external
radiation, as light or x-rays
·
Ultraviolet – Having a wavelength shorter than that of the
violet end of the visible spectrum but longer than that of x-rays.
Teaching Strategies
Before
– Using only the cover of the story, have students create an anticipation guide
of what they believe they will learn by reading this story. Be sure to wear
Day-Glo colors while reading!
During
– Students can compare and contrast the Switzer brothers while also noting how
each event leads to the eventual creation of Day-Glo. Use a Venn Diagram or
other device to aid students in comprehension.
After
– Bring in black lights to the classroom and have students write a short
journal entry from the perspective of Joe or Bob using Day-Glo colors. This
activity is exciting and fun and drives home just how important the invention
was.
Writing
Use magic surface
tables coupled with fluorescent markets to create a web that illustrates
important events and plot points in the story.
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