My first guide to weather

In sections called "What is Weather?", "Changing Weather," "World Weather," and "Extreme Weather," which are followed by a "Weather Words" glossary, de la Bedoyere accessibly covers every topic that readers will need to have a solid grasp of the basics of how weather works and how it affects Earth. (Adult-companion readers will also learn a lot here, as the book answers many questions that they may never have thought to ask.) On early spreads in the book, Chiu's pleasing and informative watercolor and ink illustrations, which feature lots of blues, greys, and greens, show the processes that produce our weather, such as how areas of hot and cold air interact to cause the wind; and the elements that weather creates, including ice, storms, and the various kinds of clouds. Later, more abstract concepts are covered, complemented by similarly attractive images, this time of items such as weather charts and their symbols, weather records, and the history of Earth's climate and current concerns about climate change. An attractive and useful guide for classroom and public library shelves.

Gr 1--4--The creators capture the beauty and science of weather in this volume. Chiu uses a handwritten and hand-painted style, making the book feel like a field sketchbook, as the artwork identifies and labels different elements found in weather. Some elements are simply labeled, such as cirrus clouds, while others provide more detail, such as how rain clouds work. Among the sections in the book are "Clouds," "Water," "Snow and Ice," and more, with each embedded with art, adding to the sketchbooklike feel. The text also covers historical weather, extremes in weather, and climate change, serving as a well-rounded exploration of the topic. VERDICT As we continue to grapple with the climate crisis, this is a reader-friendly, accessible tool to understanding a very big, global concern.--Jessica Schriver