Cloudspotting for Beginners

by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, William Grill

A beautifully illustrated guide to clouds and the sky for inspiring and educating curious minds with meteorological wonder.

Renowned journalist, public speaker, and founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society Gavin Pretor-Pinney details the key facts and characteristics about each major cloud type. To accompany these scientific tidbits, William Grill's gorgeous illustrations of vast colorful skies and mesmerizing cloud patterns create a calming, thought-provoking learning experience.

From low-lying stratus to high-flying cirrus, Cloudspotting for Beginners covers how clouds are formed, the altitudes they prefer, the curious shapes they take, how they affect other meterological events, and more. The book breaks down the life and structure of a cloud on a molecular level, and then even expands on their interesting cross-planetary variations--for example, Jupiter's clouds are composed of ammonia ice crystals and Saturn's clouds congregate in an inexplicable hexagon around the planet's north pole.

Clouds follow us around all day, but most of us don't even know all of their names. They require a fascinating amount of chemical precision in order to exist, yet they disappear at the end of each day and are born anew the next. Cloudspotting for Beginners is a whimsical lesson on the oft-overlooked extraordinary lives of clouds that will serve as a gentle reminder to be present and observant in the face of impermanence. Just as informative as it is poetic and peaceful, this is the perfect guide for cloud appreciators and sky lovers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Picture Books, Art, Childrens, Graphic Novels

96 pages, Hardcover

Published July 9, 2024

About the author

Gavin Pretor-Pinney is cofounder of The Idler magazine in England and founded of The Cloud Appreciation Society in 2005.

Reviews

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure if anything reminds me more of childhood than clouds. Laying on the grass – with or without friends – looking up at the clouds as they drift by in a brilliant blue sky, changing shape from a rabbit to... some kind of blob, or... whatever. Or the dark thunderclouds that promised the excitement of lightning and thunder and maybe racing sticks in overflowing gutters, or the mysteriousness of a thick fog and trying to lose yourself in a grassy park.

A few years ago I read The Cloudspotter's Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, an enjoyable book that combines the science of clouds with a sometimes meandering collection of charming anecdotes. In this book, he teams up with William Grill for a fully-illustrated and simpler guide to "Cloudspotting." Although it's nearly 100 pages long, it has the look and feel of a children's book - every page is fully illustrated with mostly minimal text. And it works very well - at least, it feels much easier to remember the different kinds of clouds. And I kept thinking: this would probably be a great gift for an 8 year old. But then I realized it's probably perfect for anyone of any age who isn't too grown up to be interested in spending some time looking up at the clouds. (I received an advance electronic copy from the publisher and NetGalley.)

[G.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book that's not just for younger readers.

My husband loved clouds: he enjoyed looking at photographs posted on the website of the Cloud Appreciation Society as well as the clouds he could see from his spot on the sofa at home; and he was wont to describe clear blue skies as "banal." (Me: "But think of how quickly the washing will dry!")

This book arrived a couple of days after he died earlier this year and so of course I sat down and read it from cover to cover immediately. It's clearly written, detailed but not too, with just a touch of whimsy. The illustrations are perfect: soft and smudgy, and some--the Fibratus, the Crepuscular Rays--are upliftingly beautiful.

As the back cover suggests--and I'm sure this was my husband's message to me too--"a gentle reminder to be present and observant in the face of impermanence."

[shawna’s shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was an easy and delightful journey into the world of cloud spotting. The writing made it feel like a magical adventure.

It was beautiful how the book ended: “One thing’s certain: The sky is always changing. And so your cloud will be back. But it will look different next time, because every cloud is unique. So if you spot something in the clouds, pay attention. Don’t miss it, because no other cloud will ever be quite the same - you might be the only person in the world who chose to spot it.”

I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the sky! ☁️✨

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Vartika]

A little bit of whimsy, a little bit of science. Excellent for kids and curious adults.

[S D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally old enough to enter my cloud spotting era

[Joris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming and light introduction to the art of watching clouds. It’s not overly scientific, but that’s part of the appeal. It invites you to slow down, look up, and appreciate the beauty in the sky. The tone is playful and accessible, making it perfect for curious minds of all ages. A lovely little reminder that wonder can be found in everyday things.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic intro to all kinds of clouds. The artwork is beautiful. The cloud descriptions are simple enough for anyone to grasp while still explaining the science behind clouds. I’m very happy I picked this up. I will be referring to it a lot as I look to the sky and learn what kinds of clouds I’m seeing.

[Cozy Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The illustrations were beautiful. Each flip of the page led to short passages about clouds. Passages were interesting and informative and supported by gorgeous drawings.

For example, there are sections on each cloud type, on the origin of cloud terms, and the man who named clouds.

I feel like this book could appeal to people of all ages and is something that could be shared amongst generations in a family.

The illustrations are scientific in nature to a certain extent, but they are also artwork. Coupled with the observations and reference passages, it made me think of a really lovely, educational nature journal.

I adored it. And recommend it to everyone. Cloudspotting is an accessible hobby that almost anyone can participate in.

Thanks to Net Galley and Ten Speed Press for the ARC.

[Barbora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nerealiai graži knyga!

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to believe that it’s nineteen years since Gavin Pretor-Pinney’s Cloudspotter’s Guide was published; a surprise bestseller, it made me and thousands of others look at the ever-changing skyscape with new eyes. Something that I’d taken for granted was suddenly a thing of wonder and beauty. This new book, in large picture book format and stunningly illustrated by the Kate Greenaway Medal-winning artist William Grill is a gorgeous artefact in its own right and deserves a place on the bookshelves of any reader, adult or child, who has an interest in the world around them. It does what the best books do: satisfy and inspire in equal measure.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting to learn about the formation of clouds, I had no idea there was so much too it. I love the illustrations, really lovely. Cloud science really is quite involved!

[Carly Schw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas shopping is sorted. Everyone gets this book.

[Lo scrigno di Aria]

Oggi vi parlo di una piccola chicca: una guida illustrata sulle nuvole.

Quante volte ci è capitato di alzare lo sguardo al cielo e perderci tra le nuvole studiandone le forme, vedendoci un volto piuttosto che un oggetto?

In #CloudSpottingForBegginners attraverso delle illustrazioni stupende e delle spiegazioni concise e mirate, scopriremo i vari tipi esistenti di nuvole. Ma anche come nascono e se sono presenti (e se sì, in che forma) negli altri pianeti.

Un libro da collezione. Esteticamente meraviglioso, ma anche utilissimo per apprendere tante cose su un mondo di cui sappiamo molto meno di quanto possiamo credere. Alcuni concetti sono un po’ complessi per dei bambini, ma altri no. Infatti secondo me potrebbe essere adatto anche ai più piccini. Magari da leggere e sfogliare insieme ad un adulto. Le immagini sono visivamente molto esplicative e per i bambini potrebbe essere un modo per passare del tempo di qualità con i genitori e al contempo apprendere qualcosa divertendosi.

☁️ Super consigliato!

My Bookstagram account: loscrignodiaria

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, deeply enjoyable. What would a cloud book be without illustrations? Worthless. These are dazzlingly beautiful. Clouds are a universal reality, yet we can walk around blind to their beauty and ignorant of their makeup. This book is a poetic argument to not do that.

This is now required reading for each of our kids, and I’d like to get a copy for our own library.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellissimo e curato. Un giusto equilibrio tra informazione e intrattenimento, le tavole e le doppie sono spettacolari.

Le nuvole rendono il cielo uno spettacolo nuovo ogni giorno, è così che mi sono sentita a leggere questo libro.

[Becki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, witty, simple, and quick.

[Barnaby Haszard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God, this book! The heavens on show, page after page. Clouds are the new stars, what with Starlink so often in the way. Clouds offer all the wonder we need.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little read, perfect for those wanting to learn more about the skies ☁️ Seemed very apt reading it during a storm in the UK!

[Wanda Weinhandl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book of clouds with knowledgeable information of what they mean with their form, size and colors. Very informative and has beautiful illustrations! Thank you Goodreads and Ten Speed Press for the opportunity to read this ARC book.

[Marinna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read more than a few weather-related books since both of my children want to be meteorologists. Cloudspotting for Beginners is a unique book that I cannot wait to have on my shelf because I know it’s a resource that can be returned to again and again.

The illustrations are beautiful, while also being realistic. There are little tidbits of knowledge that make this book unique. I have read too many books that only identify the basic clouds and don’t show some of the more rare ones. I was so interested to learn how clouds got their Latin names, just like plants and animals!

This book is perfect for adults and children alike. It would be a wonderful reference guide to pull out during times of odd clouds (minus the cumulonimbus clouds sporting tornadoes).

Thank you to NetGalley, Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, Ten Speed Press, and the authors William Grill and Gavin Pretor-Pinney for this wonderful resource.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Cloudspotting for Beginners by William Grill and Gavin Pretor-Pinney is a book that invites readers to look up and discover the vast canvas of the sky. This beautifully illustrated guide is a journey through the atmosphere, one that educates and inspires awe with every page turned.

The authors, Grill, an artist, and Pretor-Pinney, a renowned journalist and founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, have crafted a work that is as informative as it is poetic. It’s a testament to the authors’ expertise that they can break down the life and structure of a cloud, making the information accessible and engaging to the reader.

What sets this book apart is Grill’s gorgeous illustrations of colorful skies and mesmerizing cloud patterns.

In conclusion, Cloudspotting for Beginners is a tribute to the sky’s daily performance. It’s a perfect blend of science and art, making it an essential addition to the library of anyone who appreciates the sky’s natural beauty or seeks to understand the meteorological wonders above us.

This book is a refreshing take on a subject that touches all our lives, yet remains shrouded in mystery. It’s a must-read for cloud appreciators, sky lovers, and curious minds.

[Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most charming books I've ever read! Gavin Pretor-Pinney and William Grill have put together a beautiful book (and when I say beautiful, I mean *gorgeous*, it is art) that can make anyone, of any age, excited about clouds. The whimsical writing pairs so well with the illustrations and every page is a delight.

What more can you ask for from a non-fiction book that not just teaches you things but teaches them in a way that makes you happy? I knew a little about different types of clouds but this covers so much more, including how clouds even got names in the first place and it even ends with information about clouds on different planets! This is a perfect cloudspotting guide for beginners and though quite short, once you're through, you won't look at the sky the same way again. It's also one of those books that you would want to have a copy on your shelf, because you will love flipping through those pages again and again.

Thank you Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, William Grill; Gavin Pretor-Pinney, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that was recommended to me and provided to me on a 15-minute ride. As small as the book appears to be, though, and without a lot of words on its pages, it sure packs a punch.

The book touches on everything cloud or cloud-related thus the reader learns about the 10 types, the history of cloud naming, basic cloud info, the uniqueness of snowflakes, how clouds work including during storms, special clouds & various tornado shapes with their names. There is also a section on rainbows, halos, light shows and some planetary clouds to round out the book.

The information is simple to read and understand with a lot of graphics to help the reader. And the actual illustrations besides are so wonderfully done that they help to capture the beauty of certain cloud showd.

This is one book that should be in every nature & science library just since it may encourage you to keep an eye on the skies above you.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artful and whimsical, this book contains everything you ever wanted to know about clouds and more. I love the Glossary at the end as well as the guides throughout the book. In fact, I would love a laminated pack copy to be able to keep with me when enjoying those cloud-filled days. If you are looking for actual photographs, that is not what you will find in this book. Rather, these are pencil drawn colorings and representations. Everything is written at a level that understandable and makes sense to the novice reader. In addition to clouds, there is great information on rainbows, storms, and tornadoes.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Alejandro Jaramillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cloudspotting for Beginners is undoubtedly a book that fulfills the promise of its title. It serves as a delightful introduction to the various types of clouds, based on the classification system used by the World Meteorological Organization, which in turn is derived from the classification proposed by Luke Howard in the 19th century. The illustrations are beautifully crafted, with each page featuring a different cloud accompanied by a brief explanation. These descriptions are concise enough to let the illustrations shine, yet informative enough to avoid feeling incomplete. Truly, this book is a harmonious blend of art and science.

[Shiracitabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a good book to read when you can’t sleep. It makes me feel nostalgic, because when I was a child, I often looked at the sky and watched the clouds change. As I grew up, I realized I don’t look at the clouds as much anymore, and I wonder if other adults also notice them less.

When I was a child, I used to notice rainbows, halos, and stars. And I liked finding patterns in stars. But now, I think I can’t even see the stars anymore, because I live in a place with very high light pollution. It makes me sad because it means children will only know that there are stars from books or videos, without truly seeing them with their own eyes.

251012DPK

[Tracy]

Short and simple, like a picture book for adults. The text is brief, leaving the illustrations to take center stage. Really, I just want to learn the different types of clouds, so this was just about the right amount of content. I might have liked a little more on interpreting the clouds, but that feels ok to omit from a field guide. Instead it explained what clouds are made of. I thought some of the clouds were a bit tricky to recognize on the pages that rounded up ten at a go, but the full page spreads following were clearer. Charmingly, this includes a section on clouds on other planets.

[Amy (Other Amy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The air rushing into a Cumulonimbus can start to twist into a TORNADO. Faster and faster it spins, like bathwater swirling down the plughole. Except that it spins upward, and it's air, not water, and it can tear the roof off a house.

I just wanted to brush up on my vague memories of cloud names and characteristics, but this little picture book won my heart with Gavin Pretor-Pinney's wry humor and William Grill's wonderful color pencil illustrations. I'll be picking this one up to keep (or gift to the kiddos if they're really good).

[Ksenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A uniquely charming little gem of a book that dives into cataloguing various sky wonders, "an illustrated field guide to the science and splendor of the sky, and an ode to the human longing for pattern, for order, for an organizing principle that gives coherence to the chaos of life." (from The Marginalian review)

With its accessible science and gorgeously playful coloured pencil illustrations, Cloudspotting for Beginners is an excellent gift to literally anyone and everyone.

[Susan V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such a nostalgic read. The format and fonting reminds me of science education books that I have from the 1950s and '60s, illustrated with colored pencils and each page diagramming content.

The writing is more poetic than the textbooks of old, weaving beauty and imagery through the science.

"Stacked lenticularis clouds are when discs of cloud appear one on top of the other like a pile of pancakes. when you see them first thing in the morning, the cloud pancakes are drenched in the honeyed light of sunrise."