Clouds

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review of RAIN, CLOUDS, SNOW, and WIND]--Marion Dane Bauer brings the wonders of weather to the youngest readers and listeners in her Ready-to-Read books, CLOUDS, RAIN, SNOW, and WIND. She respects her audience and in each book provides much to think about. Paula Parker's expressive narration is paced for young listeners to take in factual information--for example, that cirrus means "curl" and stratus means "layered"--and then observe this fact portrayed in illustration. Deceptively simple science --that cold and hot air are continually changing places, for example--is given the studied measure necessary to take it in. Additional facts about the topic conclude each book. Background music completes each recording. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine