The Day-Glo Brothers

The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors by Chris BartonSo how would you illustrate a book about the two brothers who invented day-glo paint? But of course. And, boy, are day-glo colors effective in the telling of this story and its illustration.Bob and Joe Switzer never set out to be inventors. Joe wanted to be a magician. Bob wanted to be a doctor. They did not realize their dreams, but a greater future lay ahead of them; they gained fame as the inventors of day-glo paint. The story of the two brothers is a serendipitous tale of how inventors invent, of how one thing unexpectedly leads to another, of how dreams are realized even when one thinks they have been traveling down the show more wrong path.I love how the illustrator used just a bit of day-glo here and there to make a point. Beautiful and fun. Just a bit:"After Joe got married in 1938, he and his wife, Elise, moved into a run-down old farmhouse so he would have room for his own laboratory. It wasn't the best place for a young family, as their baby boy liked to chew on chemical-splattered shoes." show less

Fun story about an invention many of us probably don't realize is an invention, Day-Glo paint. (Freudian slip? but I first wrote Gay-Glo)(maybe I just find that funny) Chris Barton tells a good story full of interesting facts about the brothers' lives and Tony Persiani's illustrations and use of the colors in question are really well done. I good pick for inventor report time.

I had never given much thought to fluorescent colors until I came across this book. How Bob and Joe Switzer worked together to develop these extraordinary hues is fascinating in itself, but the imaginative illustrations which transition from shades of gray to the inclusion of Day-Glo colors really capture the mood and intent of the book. An outstanding picture book. Highly Recommended!

This tells the story of Bob and Joe Switzer and the discovery or invention of Day-Glo colors. It is very informative and also has a great narrative feel. It gives insight into their personalities and important events in their life related to Day-Glo. An author’s note explains that the widows, brother, and other family members and friends shared many stories and insights with Barton. This makes the book that much more interesting because it seems like he really did capture a bit of their spirits.

This book made me want to learn more about light, refraction, and absorption. It also told the story of two brothers who didn’t get to do exactly what they dreamed of, but who had great lives and stayed curious—and great things happened to show more them. I appreciated that Barton did not make this some sort of didactic children’s motivational fable; it’s encouraging because it is not his central theme and your not hit over the head with a feel-good story. The real story is the Day-Glo!

I would include this book in a discussion with preservice teachers about information books (how they are researched, how writing makes them accessible or not). This text is very accessible and could serve as an entry point for students reluctant in science. I would also present this text in a conversation about how to incorporate information books into units of study. (This book would work well in a unit on light or invention, for example.) Would this book be best as a read-aloud near the beginning of the unit, or as a book for students doing further research? Either or both? Why?

I think this book would also work well (with preservice teacher and with children) in a discussion about the relationship between text and illustrations. Barton writes with a bit of light-heartedness and you sense that Joe, particularly, lived life with a bit of whimsy. This feel is extended through the style of Persiani’s illustrations, which feature big heads, lots of big smiles, and a bit of a 1950’s feel. Persiani also decided to use black and white drawing (done on a computer) and then fill in certain parts of each picture with Day-Glo colors; this serves to further highlight (no pun intended) the work of the brothers. show less

Unexpected and interesting history of day-glo, those bright colors found in highlighters, safety gear, and terribly popular for clothing in the 80's. Turns out 2 brothers from Montana accidentally invented the daylight fluorescent paint. Neat to see the two very different personalities work together, approaching the problem with their unique ideas to find a solution. As expected, fantastic use of color throughout.

Not the everyday biography you expect to see, but intriguing nonetheless! The illustrations evolve from black-and-white to eye-popping day-glo color as the Switzer brothers' success with their paint invention grows. The retro feel of the cartoon illustrations is a nice touch, too.

In my opinion, this was a really interesting and good book for young readers. I think the characters were well developed and the illustrations really enhanced the text. The story is about brothers who invented day-glo from ultraviolet light and florescent paints. Their journey of discovery through conflict and resolution is emphasized in the characters’ words and actions. I also think the characters are relatable and engaging as their invention started from an accident and turned into something with hard work and dedication. The colors in the book connect perfectly with the information, as the text describes bright highlighter paint which is clearly illustrated. These neon illustrations keep the attention of the reader throughout the show more entire story. The big idea from this text is that inventions can develop from anything, as long as there is passion and hard work, you can make it happen. show less