Tag Archives: Meteorology

Elem. – Something About the Sky

Posted on by

Carson, Rachel. Something About the Sky. Illustrated by Nikki McClure. Candlewick Studio, New York, 2024. 978-1-536-22870-0. $19.99. 56 p. Grades K-5.

Conservationist Rachel Carson originally wrote the text of this book for the television program Omnibus in 1956. Long forgotten, and never published, an excerpt of the essay was illustrated by Nikki McClure in 2021 for Orion magazine. McClure immediately saw the potential for a picture book and set out to find the full original text. Filled with facts about the sky, clouds, and the water cycle, Carson’s poetic writing creates an absolutely gorgeous and informative narrative. Nikki McClure’s artwork is absolutely stunning. McClure’s signature cut-paper style is used to great effect over ink-washed layers depicting the ever-changing sky. The combined talents of writer and artist create a book that is as poetic as it is instructional. McClure’s endnotes detail the discovery of this forgotten work as well as how she collaborated with Carson’s estate to create the artwork to accompany the text.

THOUGHTS: A wonderful elementary nonfiction picture book. Useful for lessons in cloud formations, water-cycle, and environmental issues, this book also could be used as a mentor text for narrative nonfiction writing at its finest. This book will no doubt get plenty of Caldecott buzz.

551.5 Meteorology

Elem. – Groundhog Gets It Wrong

Posted on by

Townes, Jess. Groundhog Gets It Wrong. Illustrated by Nicole Miles. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-32615-2. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

Groundhog’s family tree is full of meteorologists. Now it is his turn to announce his prediction on February 2, about whether winter will persist or if spring will make an early appearance. Dressed in a tuxedo, Groundhog goes on stage and declares that winter is over, since he saw no shadow. The happy townspeople put away their winter things and plan a spring festival, but become extremely disgruntled when a major snowstorm hits the town the next day. The woodchuck tries to make amends by clearing the snow, but only makes matters worse when the streets turn icy. Sadly he leaves town seeking a new career, but returns to his burrow when the jobs don’t work out. Once home, the critter realizes that predicting the weather is not a natural talent, but requires study. After taking classes and reading a lot of books, the community weatherman is ready to return to the family business. Will he find success? The digital illustrations by Miles are colorful and amusing.

THOUGHTS: This picture book is a great read aloud and is a worthwhile purchase to freshen up your Groundhog Day collection.

Picture Book

Elem. – When the Sky Glows

Posted on by

Beckerman, Nell Cross. When the Sky Glows. Illustrated by David Litchfield. Beach Lane Books, 2022. 978-1-534-45039-4. Unpaged $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

Undoubtedly at some point in your life, you have looked up into the sky and wondered about what you see–why does the sky look that way? What is that light up in the sky? Author Nell Cross Beckerman aims to answer these questions for young readers in her nonfiction picture book When the Sky Glows. Shooting stars, auroras, rainbows, lightning storms, volcanic eruptions, and full moons are just some of the natural events that fill the sky with light and amazing colors. Simple and  lyrical text introduces each topic on a spread with an accompanying illustration depicting humans (or animals) observing the sky. The following spread is illuminated with color showing the glowing sky above the scene. A brief paragraph in the lower right explains the science behind the event. David Litchfield’s digitally rendered illustrations saturate each scene with lawyers of glowing yellows, pinks, purples, greens, and blues. Backmatter includes sources for additional research and a section of text discussing the issue of light pollution.

THOUGHTS: This title is ideal for read alouds and could easily be incorporated into lessons involving science, meteorology, weather, etc. Illustrator David Litchfield’s illustrations put the “glow” into When the Sky Glows and will surely inspire a sense of wonder and appreciation for light in readers. Highly recommended for elementary collections.

551.26 Meteorology          Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

Elem. – How to Make a Mountain in Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years!

Posted on by

Huntington, Amy. How to Make a Mountain in Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years! Illustrated by Nancy Lemon. Chronicle Books, 2022. 978-1-452-17588-1. $18.99. 68 p. Grades K-3.

Mountains, of course, take millions of years to develop. If you can transcend time and need specific, but simple, directions on how to create a mountain, this is the book for you! The book is also a very easy to understand step-by-step explanation of how mountain ranges form, change and grow, and are populated by vegetation and animal life. All it really takes is a very big rock in the right place at the right time, with the right conditions… and a very long time. This amusing book (with quirky digital pencil and gouache illustrations by Nancy Lemon) makes a potentially boring topic fun and understandable. Giving excellent, age-appropriate explanations of tectonic shift, glacial impact, and changing weather patterns, this title offers a great perspective on the continued evolution of Earth.

THOUGHTS: This is a very informative book with a fun, whimsical tone. Great resource to support elementary geology, earth sciences, and environmental literacy/sustainability curriculum standards. 

551.8 Geology, Hydrology, Meteorology          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

Elem. – Feel the Fog

Posted on by

Sayre, April Pulley.  Feel the Fog.  Beach Lane Books, 2020. 978-1-534-43760-9. Unpaged.  $17.99. Grades K-3.

Similar to her other works Best in Snow and Raindrops Roll, Sayre has created a beautiful photographic nonfiction book on the topic of fog. The images depict this “cloud, ground level” in a variety of settings, like the mountains, forests, valleys, and iceberg laden seas. Using spare rhyming text and personification, the author explains how fog develops, how it affects visibility and sound, as well as its appearance in different seasons. The reader also learns how animals like birds and deer adapt to their habitats when this phenomenon occurs. The words and images work together to provide a treat for the senses like this phrase, “Silhouettes sing from wires and fences,” which appears on a page with images of resting birds. The back matter contains additional information.

THOUGHTS: This lyrical and sensory depiction of this weather marvel is a first purchase. It works well as an introduction to weather units and also serves as a mentor text for the use of personification. Children will be fascinated by the images. After reading this book, they will experience fog in a different way the next time it rolls in.

551.575 Rainfall          Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member
Moisture

Series NF for Elementary & MS – Investigating Natural Disasters

Posted on by

Elkins, Elizabeth.  Investigating Natural Disasters. Capstone, 2017. $20.99ea. $83.96 set of 4. 32p. Gr. 3-7.

Investigating Earthquakes. 978-1-51574-038-4.

Investigating Floods. 978-1-51574-040-7.

Investigating Hurricanes. 978-1-51574-039-1.

Investigating Tornadoes. 978-1-51574-037-7.

The Investigating Natural Disasters series aims to inform readers about four of the most common natural disasters: earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. The forces that form each type of disaster and explained and scientific terminology is defined within callout boxes present throughout the chapters. The role and scientists, meteorologists and other forecasters in predicting events is also highlighted. Well-known examples of each type of disaster are included within the text. Disaster safety tips, for before, during, and after each each event are presented and discussed. THOUGHTS: This engaging series offers interested readers a good introduction to the science behind the natural disasters most likely to strike in the United States. A solid choice for student researchers and casual readers alike.

Geology; Meteorology      Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg School District