Can You Get Rainbows in Space? by Dr Sheila Kanani acquired by Puffin

A wonderful, joyful, colourful look at the things that make up our universe.

We’re thrilled to announce that Can You Get Rainbows in Space? by Dr Sheila Kanani MBE has been acquired by Puffin, to be published 23^rd March 2023. The book is illustrated by Liz Kay, a beautiful compendium that uses the rainbow to guide young readers through a universe of scientific facts about colour. World rights were acquired at auction from children’s agent Hannah Weatherill.

Why is blood red? Why are carrots orange? Who invented the lightbulb? Why is the world ‘going green’? Is the sky really blue? And what is ultraviolet light?

You’ll discover the answers to these questions – and many more – in this incredible collection of scientific facts about colour. We’ll talk about light (the most important thing) and waves (not the kind you see at the beach – though you will learn why the sea looks blue!). You’ll find out how some animals are able to glow in the dark and how others change their colours to hide from predators. Keep reading to discover why leaves change colour in the autumn, why your veins look blue but your blood is red, and why the language we use shapes the colours we see . . .

And you’ll learn exactly how to make a rainbow – in space.

Sheila’s writing career began in 2018 with the publication of The Extraordinary Life of Michelle Obama. She quickly followed this with four wonderful books packed full of facts for children – Space on Earth, How to be an Astronaut and Other Space Jobs, shortlisted for the 2022 Blue Peter Book Prize in the Books with Facts category, The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks and The Extraordinary Life of Amelia Earhart.

Sheila is a planetary physicist and the current Education, Outreach and Diversity officer for the Royal Astronomical Society in London. She was appointed MBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List for services to astronomy and diversity in physics.

“I am dedicated to improving the representation of girls and ethnic minorities in physics and I’m always trying to identify new ways to take astronomy and physics to underrepresented communities.”

Dr Sheila Kanani commented, “I’m so excited to finally see physical copies of Can You Get Rainbows in Space? after the long pandemic period! Writing this book was a rainbow during a storm for me, and I hope the information and illustrations will cheer up even your darkest days! I am dedicated to improving the representation of girls and ethnic minorities in physics and I’m always trying to identify new ways to take astronomy and physics to underrepresented communities. As the daughter of an immigrant mother, and a refugee father who came to the UK in 1972, I hope I am able to act as a role model and inspiration for my students and young readers in a way that hasn’t been achieved before.”