National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Weather

May 15, 2017
An inviting photographic guide to the strange and surprising state of air all around us.Bold photographs and color-coded chapters slice this info-packed primer into manageable portions. Each section of standard weather fare (hot, cold, wind, and rain) has a dedicated background tone, while brief mentions of weather folklore, scientific tools, and climate change complete the package. Questions to readers printed in text boxes lend themselves to further conversation, while brightly colored bubbles shout small facts and tidbits. De Seve neatly relates lessons to everyday life, as when she suggests readers imagine steam from a pot when talking about clouds. Intriguing extras include the Beaufort scale and the list of possible hurricane names for the years 2015 through 2020--which readers will quickly scour to see if their own names made the cut. Alas, the text doesn't mention the practice of retiring names, so some astute kids may wonder why well-known past storms aren't included. Games at the ends of chapters are meant to reinforce lessons learned, but most are just quick puzzles to add a bit of liveliness. The variety of skin tones of humans portrayed in the carefully chosen photographs is appreciated. Budding meteorologists have no shortage of introductory books from which to choose, but the clean design may help this one stand out. (parent tips, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 6-8)

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August 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 3-The newest entry in this interactive series offers readers a lively introduction to the science of weather systems. Each of the first six chapters covers a different type of weather children might experience, giving simple scientific explanations for phenomena such as heat waves, wind storms, and cloud formations. The last chapter discusses the concept of climate zones. Readers of all ages will enjoy the browsability of the colorful spreads, and the choice to divide the book into chapters based on weather types (hot, cold, rainy, windy, and cloudy) is developmentally appropriate for children who may not have examined the subject before. A small number of photographs show destruction of vehicles and buildings caused by extreme circumstances, but safety tips offer information as well as reassurance to those who might find these pictures frightening. As with all books in this series, questions and games incorporated throughout all sections invite critical thinking. Parental tips and front matter will help adults use the book with prereaders, while the back matter and pronunciation tips support fluent readers looking for specific topics and material. VERDICT The cheerful page layout, easily-grasped facts, and bright photographs make this another solid entry in a perennially favorite series.-Katherine Barr, Cameron Village Regional Library, NC

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