Breen, Mark. Kathleen Friestad, Michael Kline (Illustrator). The Kid's Book of Weather Forecasting: Build a Weather Station, 'Read the Sky' & Make Predictions! (Williamson Kids Can! Series). Williamson Publishing Company (July 2000)

Ages 9-12
ISBN: 1885593392

     Like other books in the Kids Can series, this combines information presented at middle-grade level with activities that help children absorb it. The familiar horizontal format gives plenty of space for the black-and-white-illustrations, including cartoon-like drawings, photographs, and diagrams. Meteorologist Mark Breen offers insights into the complex subject of weather forecasting, explaining the science that lies behind these useful predictions. Hands-on projects include making a barometer, a rain gauge, and a "tornado" from a spinning column of water in two-liter plastic bottles taped together. Informal, yet always informative, this book is a good place to look for weather-related activities for classroom or home-based science projects. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
 

Day, John A. Vincent J. Schaefer, Roger Tory Peterson. Peterson First Guide to Clouds and Weather. Houghton Mifflin; Pocket edition

ISBN: 0395906636

     This Peterson First guide contains easy-to-understand answers to questions about the weather, such as why the sky is blue, what makes it rain, and what causes rainbows. The book also features 116 color photographs that show how to identify clouds, with explanations of what each cloud type tells about the weather to come.

DeWitt, Lynda. Carolyn Croll (Illustrator) What Will the Weather Be? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2). HarperTrophy; Reprint edition (March 5, 1993)

Ages 4-8
ISBN: 0064451135

     While such concepts as cold and warm fronts are clearly explained and effectively illustrated, so many terms are introduced here that young readers may come away a bit confused about barometers, anemometers, wind vanes, hygrometers, and air pressure. This is still good introductory material to what can be a complex topic, and it could be used effectively if followed by class discussion. Illustrations are brightly colored and friendly, featuring the same boy, girl, and cat on most pages. - Rosie Peasley, Empire Union School District, Modesto, CA. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
 

Eubank, Mark. Mark A. Hicks (Illustrator). The Weather Detectives. Gibbs Smith, Publisher (April 16, 2004)

Ages 4-8
ISBN: 1586854127

     Two young weather detectives traveling with an astronaut friend begin their investigations on Mars. After escaping a dust storm by calculating its speed, the group explores assorted weather phenomena on Earth. The three go from Florida, where they learn about cloudbursts and hurricanes, to Alabama to find out about freezing rain. As they crisscross the U.S., they experience the highest and lowest recorded temperatures, huge hailstones, snowflakes as large as pizzas, and the Chinook winds. Tips for surviving tornadoes and hurricanes are included. Simple experiments, activities, and additional facts are set aside in boxed sections. Playful cartoon watercolor-and-pen illustrations, dialogue bubbles, and the enthusiastic writing style add to the fun. There is a table of contents, but no index, thus consigning this accessible book to browsing. - Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gibbons, Gail. Weather Words and What They Mean . Holiday House; Reprint edition (March 1992)

Ages 4-8
ISBN: 082340952X

     Gibbons' easily identifiable artistic style works well with her explanations of sometimes misunderstood weather-related terms. Drawings are appealing, attractively arranged, and closely matched to the textual information. Temperature, air pressure, moisture, and wind are broadly defined and illustrated. Each of the four areas is then broken down further: moisture is illustrated as rain, drizzle, hail, snow, etc. The term describing each type of weather phenomenon is highly visible in large type and is contained in a dialogue balloon that stands out from the accompanying illustration. One page of curious weather facts concludes the book. An attractive introduction for weather units in the primary grades, along with Gibbon's Weather Forecasting (Four Winds, 1987). --Carolyn S. Brodie, Kent State University, OH Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc
 

Gibbons, Gail. (Illustrator). Weather Forecasting. Aladdin; Reprint edition (March 31, 1993)

Ages 4-8
ISBN: 0689716834

     Gibbons again makes a complex subject understandable to young children. Starting with the change of seasons, she discusses the weather typical of each season and how it develops, and then shows how the weather forecasters arrive at their short and long-range forecasts and make them available. She offers enough scientific vocabulary to delight the beginning scientists, e.g., anemometer and cumulonimbus clouds, while she relates the weather conditions to situations children will recognize, from thunderstorms to snow. Page design is cluttered, and the text appears in a smaller, less bold and hence less readable typeface than any of Gibbons' other recent books, which may put off less able readers. Informative printed explanations in many areas of the illustrations also are not easy to read. Sylvia S. Marantz, Wellington School, Columbus, Ohio Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Legault, Marie-Anne Legault. Scholastic Atlas Of Weather (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Awards))Scholastic Reference (April 1, 2004)

Ages 9-12
ISBN: 0439419026

     A compendium of the hows, whys, and wherefores of weather, using two-page units to address a variety of related topics. Replete with a multitude of colorful illustrations and diagrams (and data-packed captions) and a plethora of sidebars, the conversational text is limited to a paragraph or so on each topic (such as types of clouds, sand and dust storms, etc.). The whole is rounded off with a "Facts" section, and eight relatively simple experiments. A key to measurement abbreviations and a metric/US conversion chart are also appended. Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Simon, Seymour. Lightning. HarperTrophy; New Ed edition (May 25, 1999)

Ages 4-8
ISBN: 0688167063

From School Library Journal
     A purple-hued cover photo attracts readers to this fascinating topic. The stunning, vibrantly colored photographs help to explain the text, illustrating points such as the differences between the three kinds of lightning. Short, simple sentences make this topic accessible to younger readers but do not talk down to older report writers. Simon emphasizes precautions about lightning (for example, "If you are in water, get out as soon as possible"). He also lists safe places to be if you are caught out in the open during a lightning storm. Libraries that own Stephen Kramer's Lightning (Carolrhoda, 1992) or Jonathan Kahl's Thunderbolt (Lerner, 1993) may not need an additional title covering similar material, but the outstanding photos make Simon's book a striking selection.?Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Staub, Frank. The Kids' Book of Clouds & Sky. Sterling (March 28, 2004)

Ages 9-12
ISBN: 0806978791

From School Library Journal
     Clouds may be the main thrust here, but they are accompanied by data on air pollution, crepuscular rays, the atmosphere, air pressure, and a variety of other weather and astronomic subjects. The question-and-answer format will appeal to general browsers. Small, full-color captioned photos and diagrams abound. Experiments include making a rainbow with a garden hose, checking evaporation rates in sun and shade, and measuring the dew point. This volume will not supplant other titles on your shelves, but will provide enjoyment for curious browsers, and perhaps prove helpful to classroom teachers or homeschooling parents.–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
 

White, Nancy. Art Ruiz (Illustrator). The Magic School Bus Kicks Up A Storm: A Book About Weather . Scholastic Paperbacks (February 1, 2000)

Ages 4-8
ISBN: 0439102758

     When Ralphie imagines that he's a superhero named Weatherman, the Magic School Bus becomes a glider riding an updraft into the storm clouds. Then the kids become part of the storm - turning from ice crystals to rain. It's a science lesson they'll never forget!

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