Glitter Everywhere!: Where It Came From, Where It's Found Where It's Going [Hardcover]

Fans of How It’s Made will love this fresh, irreverent look at the science and story behind glitter.

If you love glitter, this book is for you. If you hate glitter, this book is also for you.

Everyone seems to have an opinion about glitter. But how much do you know about the tiny, shiny confetti? What makes glitter glitter? Why does it stick to everything? Who invented it? How is it made? Is glitter bad for the environment?

Chris Barton’s informative wit and Chaaya Prabhat's vibrant art make Glitter Everywhere sparkle as it covers the good, the bad, and shiny of all things glitter.♦ At last, a material known to every crafter for its almost-supernatural tendency to spread everywhere gets its due. Barton opens by explaining what “iridescence” is, speculating about its visual attractiveness and pointing out the places it can be observed in nature, from feathers and mica to the elytra of beetles. He details early examples of its use in art and decoration before offering a history of its modern manufacture (initially known as mineral “flitter,” then “slivers” of plastic before companies like Glitterex gave it its current name) and some of the many uses to which it has been put, including cupcakes and mixtures with Ash Wednesday ashes to “signal the welcoming of LGBTQ+ worshippers.” Its downsides are also noted, such as the use of child labor to mine mica and the fact that the bulk of it is by definition a microplastic and contributes substantially to pollution. Closing with references to efforts to create biodegradable and sustainably produced alternative glitters, he urges readers to “shimmer more thoughtfully” and rounds up sources and resources for further enlightenment. Visual sparkle is adlãŒ