WHAT'S THE WEATHER?

“Weather is all around us”—look around; what do you see?

This survey of weather trends and phenomena uses observations and prompts to boost children’s critical-thinking skills. Loose topics covered include temperatures, cloud types, wind, precipitation, and severe weather. For the most part, the United States–centric text is focused and minimal, but in a couple of instances the amount of information offered jumps to severely overload spreads. A strong participatory element dominates, as young readers are encouraged to consult the pictures or their personal environments to consider such prompts as, “Describe what you see in the sky around you.” The book also applies discussions to daily life through questions referencing the different kinds of activities and clothes appropriate for different weather. Such are distinguishable from the descriptive text only through italicization, blurring the distinction. Stock photographs featuring children of multiple racial presentations dominate the pages, providing strong visual representations of discussed topics but likely garnering little investment from readers. Backmatter includes additional activities for temperature and cloud observations, definitions of key concepts (including some not addressed in the main text), a cloud picture chart, as well as a discussion and accompanying pop-quiz questions on the differences between weather, climate, and seasons (with answers at the bottom of the page). A Spanish edition publishes simultaneously, in paperback only. (Due to Covid complications, this book will publish in paperback on pub date and in hardcover in Jan. 2021.)

The book’s uneven structure makes for bumpy sailing through these self-directed waters.