What Makes a Blizzard?

December 15, 2017
An account of the "Schoolchildren's Blizzard" of 1888, with explanations of how blizzards form and are forecast.Though Zoehfeld mentions blizzards elsewhere, she focuses on the Midwest, where, she writes, they are "among the worst in the world." Her description of the January 1888 storm certainly supports the claim (even though she doesn't go into death tolls or particular tragedies). She follows up with explanations of how warm and cold fronts clash, what happens to the water vapor carried in air masses as temperatures change, how meteorologists predict storms (and what exactly defines a "blizzard"--it involves wind speed, duration, and visibility conditions), and finally safety precautions to take until it's time to go play in the snow. All very reassuring. She also gives readers a taste of specific technical terms such as "condensation" and "deposition" and offers instructions for keeping a weather log and one other simple activity. Along with maps and diagrams, Frost provides simply drawn scenes of a semirural cluster of log cabins, populated by white families in the 19th century but giving way in occasional anachronistically placed illustrations and on later pages to a similar but more inclusive neighborhood with at least one interracial couple.A solid contribution to the venerable series, offering an unusual mix of history and science. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

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January 1, 2018
Grades K-3 An account of the treacherous blizzard of 1888 (aka the Schoolchildren's Blizzard ) provides a rousing start to this book. On an unusually warm January morning, children left their coats at home and walked to one-room schoolhouses. Later, black storm clouds loomed, the temperature dropped, and the unexpected onslaught of cold, wind, and white-out snow conditions left many kids stranded. The story leads into a discussion of wintry weather factors such as warm fronts, cold fronts, and snow formation, as well as meteorological instruments available in the 1800s and the 2000s. The book closes with advice for those who might experience blizzards today. Apart from the exaggerated opening statement ( In the midwestern United States, it's always cold and snowy in winter ), the engaging text is accurate and upbeat. Similarly, the cheerful digital illustrations offer charming views of families, past and present, dealing with snowstorms. The simple activities, observing snowflakes with a magnifying glass and keeping a winter weather journal, are appropriate for the age group. A handsome addition to the dependable Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)