The Sketcher and the Photographer · ages 9-14

Open and Shut

The idea: a joint lets a shape swing between two forms.

Read it

Who is in this book

Margit A prediction drawn from the letters alone, firm where sure and faint where not
Kemi A measurement from the real thing, sharp where it held still and blurred where it moved
Danya a child of the Green Asks "how do we know?"
Beto a child of the Green Takes things apart

Every recurring character has a short tune, so you can tell who is on stage before a word is said. The tunes play only when you tap, and the Reading Access sound switch turns them off.

The Honest Page

Which parts of this story are true, stretched or made up?

True

Many proteins have two parts joined by a flexible hinge, and swing between an open shape and a closed shape. Source
Two real shapes, one drawn, leaves one shape the drawing did not show.
Some proteins close around a partner once it arrives, like a hand closing on a ball. Source

Stretched

Proteins do not swing open and shut once a day. What we simplified: Real ones switch very fast, many times a second; the story uses two days so each photograph has its own moment.

Made up

Margit, Kemi and their protein are made up.

Tell it back

Tell the story in your own words: who was there, what went wrong, and what they found out. Then the fifth pair goes on your belt.

Ring the hammer for someone

Pick this book for someone younger. The link carries only the book, and it will wait for them on the Green.

Across the Table → For the grown-up: the story in three lines, one question to ask, and one thing to do together.