Feel the Fog

July 1, 2020
Full-color photographs pair with sparse but poetic text to describe the fog and offer the basic science behind it. Words set in a spindly typeface called QuickRest appear in different ink colors, contrasting well at all times against full-bleed art. The initial double-spread page says, "Fog rolls in, damp and pale." That is followed by two coordinated photographs on the next spread: "A cloud, ground level, / hugs stone / and snail." The text is simple, accessible, and graceful throughout, always with a pleasant rhythm and sometimes rhyming. There is gentle humor, as in an apt reference to the kind of bone-chilling fog that appears to be affecting a hunched-over water bird: "Dewy. Cold stewy." About halfway in, the text--still maintaining its cadence--switches from sensory descriptions of fog's presence to elementary explanations of how warm, moist air cools to create fog, presenting examples of environments where that often occurs. The final pages contain a bit more science and plenty more lyricism. The text is complemented artfully with stunning, full-lead photographs from several states in the U.S. as well as the countries of Greenland and Panama. An abundance of natural beauty is seen in every spread: from spider webs to deer; from tide pools to icebergs. Aside from one small shot of birds on a wire, there are no images of people or human-made objects. The effect--whether read silently or aloud--is mesmerizing and reverent. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) Alluring. (further facts) (Informational picture book. 3-7)

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August 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 3-This next installment in the "Weather Walks" series focuses on fog. As in the other books (Raindrops Roll; Full of Fall; Best in Snow), the text is brief and alliterative. One spread features the words "Dank and drippy. Plip, plop, plippy" written in white text. The accompanying photo shows a dewy spider web. The use of white text with mostly white and gray backgrounds might make finding the words an appropriate challenge. Readers will learn facts about fog in the back matter, including how it clears, why it feels cold, and how it impacts sight and sound. Dry scientific explanations sometimes diminish nature's wonders, but both the misty background and the skilled writing maintain fog's mystery. "Fog limits what you can see, but it can expand what you imagine." VERDICT Unfortunately, fog is not as dazzling as fall leaves, flowers, or freshly fallen snow, so this series title is not as visually appealing as the others overall. However, this book should be considered for weather studies collections or for language arts lessons in alliteration.-Elaine Fultz, Oakwood City Sch., Dayton, OH

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2020
Preschool-G *Starred Review* Some children's science books explain natural phenomena, while others inspire a sense of wonder. Few combine the two as beautifully as Sayre's nature books, such as Best in Snow (2016), Full of Fall (2017), or her latest, on fog. Thicker than mist, / fog can drift, / fog can flow. / Fog forms above / fields of snow. / Fog shifts focus / to near, right here / What do you smell? / What do you hear? The poetic text works seamlessly with the photos to guide readers through the scenes, while pointing out the distinctive features of fog, such as its movement and the way it affects perception by muffling sounds and dimming colors. In one scene, mottled pale-gray forms fade into white, but gradually the barely discernible forms of birds emerge. The large-format volume showcases Sayre's riveting photos, whether transporting readers to foggy mountains and forests or focusing attention on droplets of dew condensed on a spider's web. For curious readers, two appended pages provide clear, succinct explanations of fog, water vapor, condensation, and related topics. From the photos to the poetry to the science, everything about the book is spare, elegant, and accessible to primary-grade children. A beautiful, absorbing science book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)