My Shadow is Growing Faster Than Me Holds #1 New Release
A Deeper Look at the Story, Science, and Discovery Inside
We’re thrilled to share that My Shadow is Growing Faster Than Me, the newest picture book in the Little Laurie series by author and science educator Renée Bandes and education coach Michael A Evans, has been holding strong as a #1 New Release on Amazon for nearly a month.
This beautifully illustrated storybook captures a moment of quiet childhood wonder and turns it into a journey of scientific discovery. It’s a book that gently invites young learners—and the grownups guiding them—to explore big questions about time, light, shadows, and the movement of our Earth, all from the grounded perspective of one curious little girl and her ever-observant stuffed pig.
If you’re new to the Little Laurie series or wondering how this book supports early science learning, here’s what makes it so powerful—and how you can use it at home or in your classroom.
A Story That Begins with a Shadow
In My Shadow is Growing Faster Than Me, we meet Little Laurie on a calm, sunny afternoon. She’s playing in the yard, watching her shadow move and stretch beside her. But something feels strange: her shadow doesn’t always stay the same. Sometimes it’s long. Sometimes it’s short. Sometimes it points in a different direction altogether.
As the story unfolds, Little Laurie begins to notice these shifts more carefully. She wonders aloud why her shadow changes even when she’s standing still. With encouragement from her mom and her own love of learning, Little Laurie begins to explore how shadows form, how they change throughout the day, and what those changes can tell us about the passage of time.
It’s a warm, relatable story grounded in something every child has seen: their own shadow doing something unexpected. From that simple observation, Little Laurie begins uncovering ideas that touch on Earth’s rotation, the position of the sun, and the basic concept of time itself.
A Gentle Introduction to Real Science
Although written for children ages 4–7, My Shadow is Growing Faster Than Me is rooted in real science concepts and aligned with early elementary learning standards. The story provides a developmentally appropriate path into topics such as:
- Patterns of sunlight and shadows across the day, aligned with NGSS 1-ESS1-1, which encourages students to observe patterns of motion in the sky, including the sun’s position.
- How sunlight affects Earth’s surface, reflecting NGSS K-PS3-1, which explores how sunlight warms land, water, and air.
- Seasonal change and shadow patterns, connecting with NYSSLS P.ESS1.1, which encourages students to observe how shadows and daylight change over time and with the seasons.
- Recording and interpreting environmental patterns, supported by NYSSLS P.ESS2.1, which asks students to notice and record how weather, light, and sky conditions vary.
These standards might sound big, but in the world of Little Laurie, they’re made small enough for little hands to hold. Through gentle narrative and relatable imagery, children are encouraged to notice patterns, make predictions, and ask meaningful questions—all without leaving their own backyard.
Experiments That Extend the Learning
Beyond the story, the book includes two hands-on science activities that make the concepts even more concrete and engaging. Designed with caregivers and teachers in mind, these experiments use simple materials and can be done with little to no prep.
The first is a Shadow Tracker activity using sidewalk chalk. Children are invited to stand in the same spot at different times of day while an adult or partner traces the outline of their shadow. Over the course of a morning or afternoon, they begin to notice their shadow getting shorter, longer, or changing direction—often dramatically so. This simple activity not only connects directly to the story but offers a visual, embodied experience of how Earth’s rotation makes the sun appear to move across the sky. It’s an especially effective way to build early observation and data collection skills in a playful, kinesthetic format.
The second is a Shadow Puppet Show, which introduces children to the idea that shadows are made when something blocks light. Using a flashlight or lamp in a darkened room and a few simple paper cutouts, children can create their own shadow stories. As they move the light source and puppets, they’ll observe how the size, clarity, and shape of the shadow change depending on the angle and distance. While less focused on time, this activity reinforces key concepts about light, darkness, and how shadows behave—while encouraging storytelling, creativity, and open-ended exploration.
Together, these two experiments give children a full-circle experience: they observe shadows in the real world, they test what they’ve noticed through guided activities, and they return to the story with deeper understanding and new questions of their own.
Supporting Discovery at Home & in the Classroom
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or early childhood educator, My Shadow is Growing Faster Than Me offers a powerful model for how storytelling and science can work together to support deep, joyful learning.
At home, the book makes a wonderful conversation starter. Children can explore the shadow tracking activity on a sunny afternoon or perform their puppet show after dinner. Just as Laurie is encouraged to notice her surroundings and ask thoughtful questions, your child can begin to do the same—especially when an adult joins in with patience and curiosity.
In the classroom, this book aligns beautifully with early science units on weather, seasons, and Earth’s motion. Teachers might pair the story with daily sky observations, weather journals, or time-of-day discussions. Because the language is gentle and the imagery familiar, it works well as a circle time read-aloud, a science center anchor text, or the kickoff to a longer inquiry project about light and shadow. It also supports early literacy and SEL goals by modeling respectful conversation, reflection, and the courage to ask big questions.
Most importantly, the book encourages adults to slow down and learn with their children. It reminds us that science isn’t just something to teach—it’s something to share. And it doesn’t require lab coats or fancy equipment. Sometimes all it takes is a shadow, a sidewalk, and someone to wonder alongside you.
Available Now on Amazon
My Shadow is Growing Faster Than Me is available now in paperback and Kindle through Amazon and continues to be a favorite among families and educators alike. It’s part of the growing Little Laurie’s Science Stories series and pairs beautifully with the new science-themed coloring book Hello, Nature!—both written by Renée Bandes and rooted in a shared vision: that discovery begins with love, observation, and play.
If you haven’t yet added this book to your home or classroom library, now is a great time to join Little Laurie on her latest adventure.
Because sometimes, it turns out, your shadow really is trying to tell you something.