Clouds

A Compare and Contrast Book

by Katharine Hall

There are many different kinds of clouds all around us. Clouds come in diverse shapes and colors. Some clouds are fluffy and others are wispy.  Some clouds float high in the sky and others sit low on the ground. Some clouds warn of storms and other clouds tell of fair weather.  Compare and contrast the characteristics of different types of clouds through vibrant photographs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spanish Literature, Childrens, Science, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary

Eighteen beautiful photographs are used to show the variety in clouds. Thirteen of these photos are split between two pages with a descriptive line accompanying them, such as "Some clouds are big and fluffy;" and "others are thin and wispy." The final four pages are much more information dense. Two of these pages have easy demonstrations to help kids to learn about the water cycle, along with quick explanations of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. The next page explains the general classifications of clouds: cirrus, cumulus, stratus and nimbus, and has six pictures for kids to match. The book ends with a few facts about how different types of clouds can be used to make weather predictions. The final page includes a bibliography and a statement that the book has been vetted by local news Chief Meteorologist Dave Williams. In addition to the content included in the book, Arbordale Publishing provides supplemental materials on their website (http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/bo...). In the red links to the right of the page, additional teaching activities, quizzes and numerous reliable/educational websites with more in-depth information are provided. (There is also a very representative sample of the book provided here. And the link "For Creative Minds" is a PDF identical to the final four pages in the book.)

Review

Clouds: A Compare and Contrast Book is a perfect introduction for igniting a child's interest in the water cycle and meteorology. Although the book is recommended for children 4-8, the first 26 pages seem to be better suited for children on the lower end of that range. However, the beautiful photos and extensive activities (in the book and online) are perfect for older kids as well. Reading this book together will provide fun bonding time for children and parents, while the educational content is equally appropriate for a classroom. Also, the bibliography at the end of the book is a wonderful example for older children of what it looks like to site reliable sources. In order to get the most out of this book, it is essential for adults to guide younger children through the activities.

My rating for the book is reflective of the edition I received, the hardcover edition. Lovely as they are, a few of the photographs look slightly pixilated, as if they have been blown up a little too large. However this is only in a couple of the photos, and is probably only noticeable to a hypercritical adult. A slightly larger issue is the fact that these photos are split in half across the two pages. Most of them are expansive landscapes, so this does not harm. However, by my count, 4 of these 13 photos contain center details which are warped by this configuration: a tree, some birds, a rainbow, and most importantly, a tornado. The tornado is the focus of the text, "Some clouds swirl;", but it is so obscured by the crease, it is not even immediately noticeable. For this reason I would recommend the e-book edition instead. I also wish there was a key explaining the classification of the clouds in every photo of this book so kids can go back through and guess based on what they learned, but I'm sure even without a key parents can easily help with this. Finally, the book introduces the idea that some clouds are colorful, but doesn't make an attempt to address what causes the coloration. (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/clo... explains this very well, although it is a bit advanced for younger children. This is just a good resource for parents when the kid invariably asks why clouds are colorful.) Overall, these are small complaints of a wonderful book that encourages children's interest in science.

Thank you to Arbordale Publishing for gifting this book to me through goodreads in exchange for a review. I'm happy to report that the book has been passed on to a 4 year old girl.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book to introduce the study of clouds and use in a weather unit, this could also be used as an example of how to write a comparison and contrast essay. Illustrations show clouds colorful with the sunset or dark and heavy with rain. The clouds are pictured at the beach, among the trees, over farmland and in other locations to emphasize their presence around the world. The photographs capture vivid blues in sea and sky, the gray of storm fronts and shadows, and even the eerie yellow of fog. Back matter includes an explanation of clouds, water cycle experiments, matching games, and pointers on how to use clouds to predict the weather.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note to self: Amazing that my son can read this non-fiction level f book at 4 years old. More amazing, he requested to read it. The photos peak his interest and help him gain understanding of the clouds we see throughout our lives.

[Vayda Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to clouds for kids.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for the very little ones to look at spotting similarities and differences and making them look up at the sky. Not much content for middle or older aged children.

[ACS Book-finder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely picture book filled with photographs of the variety of clouds. Each cloud and picture spread has a single sentence giving a single statement about the type of could depicted. It is a descriptive statement and not a definitive one. I would have like to have seen the actual type of cloud pictured named. If not in the actual text, then in a little side box.

The back of the book contains a variety of information about vapor and condensation and the creation of clouds. This is the “For Creative Minds” section and will generate some activity to explore evaporation and condensation.

The four major categories of clouds are identified and there is a matching activity to facilitate learning.

All in all, this is a basic and nicely done book. At first it comes across a bit flat to the reader, but upon further in-depth reading and exploration one can find much to learn.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Arbordale Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this series, Katharine Hall focuses on two different topics: trees and clouds. She beautifully introduces each book with full-sized, two-page spread, colorful photographs. A new fact is given with each turn of the page. Meanwhile, the reader will be captivated and flipping back and forth between the pages in order to admire the stunning scenery. This set of informational books is very detailed and descriptive, yet it is also easy to read and makes learning fun and interesting. Four additional pages are included at the end of each book for enrichment. Students between the ages of five and eight will be delighted to read these books as well as become intrigued to learn more about science.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This photo essay allows young readers to consider the differences in clouds. Since they can form in different sizes and shapes and have different characteristics, readers will have a chance to see how they are alike and how they are different. There are some great activities at the end of the book so that they can match the types of clouds with their images and note how looking at clouds may allow them to make their own predictions about the weather. This is a good introduction to clouds and a unit on weather.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is not as strong as her Polar Bears and Penguins title. Gorgeous photos but the compare aspect of the subject was disappointing.