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Look at the Sky and Tell the Weather
A delightful blend of serious meteorology and beautiful illustrations, this informative book displays the many talents of Eric Sloane. A writer, landscape painter, weather forecaster, and authority on early American history, Sloane takes readers with him on a voyage of discovery as he traces a single air mass from the Canadian Rockies to northern New England. A vivid narrative and the author's own pen-and-ink sketches describe the progress of the air mass over America, and tell about its encounters with other elements of weather systems and with Americans from a variety of backgrounds.
112 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2004
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About the author
Eric Sloane
100 books58 followersEric Sloane (born Everard Jean Hinrichs) was an American landscape painter and author of illustrated works of cultural history and folklore. He is considered a member of the Hudson River School of painting.
Eric Sloane was born in New York City. As a child, he was a neighbor of noted sign painter and type designer Frederick W. Goudy. Sloane studied art and lettering with Goudy. While he attended the Art Students League of New York City, he changed his name because George Luks and John French Sloan suggested that young students should paint under an assumed name so that early inferior works would not be attached to them. He took the name Eric from the middle letters of America and Sloane from his mentor's name.
In the summer of 1925, Sloane ran away from home, working his way across the country as a sign painter, creating advertisements for everything from Red Man Tobacco to Bull Durham. Unique hand calligraphy and lettering became a characteristic of his illustrated books.
Sloane eventually returned to New York and settled in Connecticut, where he began painting rustic landscapes in the tradition of the Hudson River School. In the 1950s, he began spending part of the year in Taos, New Mexico, where he painted western landscapes and particularly luminous depictions of the desert sky. In his career as a painter, he produced over 15,000 works. His fascination with the sky and weather led to commissions to paint works for the U.S. Air Force and the production of a number of illustrated works on meteorology and weather forecasting. Sloane is even credited with creating the first televised weather reporting network, by arranging for local farmers to call in reports to a New England broadcasting station.
Sloane also had a great interest in New England folk culture, Colonial daily life, and Americana. He wrote and illustrated scores of Colonial era books on tools, architecture, farming techniques, folklore, and rural wisdom. Every book included detailed illustrations, hand lettered titles, and his characteristic folksy wit and observations. He developed an impressive collection of historic tools which became the nucleus of the collection in the Sloane-Stanley Tool Museum in Kent, Connecticut.
Sloane died in New York in 1985, while walking down the street to a luncheon held in his honor.
Sloane's best known books are A Reverence for Wood, which examines the history and tools of woodworking, as well as the philosophy of the woodworker; The Cracker Barrel, which is a compendium of folk wit and wisdom; and Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake-1805, based on a diary he discovered at a local library book sale. His most famous painted work is probably the skyscape mural, Earth Flight Environment, which is still on display in the Independence Avenue Lobby in the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.
Eric Sloane was born in New York City. As a child, he was a neighbor of noted sign painter and type designer Frederick W. Goudy. Sloane studied art and lettering with Goudy. While he attended the Art Students League of New York City, he changed his name because George Luks and John French Sloan suggested that young students should paint under an assumed name so that early inferior works would not be attached to them. He took the name Eric from the middle letters of America and Sloane from his mentor's name.
In the summer of 1925, Sloane ran away from home, working his way across the country as a sign painter, creating advertisements for everything from Red Man Tobacco to Bull Durham. Unique hand calligraphy and lettering became a characteristic of his illustrated books.
Sloane eventually returned to New York and settled in Connecticut, where he began painting rustic landscapes in the tradition of the Hudson River School. In the 1950s, he began spending part of the year in Taos, New Mexico, where he painted western landscapes and particularly luminous depictions of the desert sky. In his career as a painter, he produced over 15,000 works. His fascination with the sky and weather led to commissions to paint works for the U.S. Air Force and the production of a number of illustrated works on meteorology and weather forecasting. Sloane is even credited with creating the first televised weather reporting network, by arranging for local farmers to call in reports to a New England broadcasting station.
Sloane also had a great interest in New England folk culture, Colonial daily life, and Americana. He wrote and illustrated scores of Colonial era books on tools, architecture, farming techniques, folklore, and rural wisdom. Every book included detailed illustrations, hand lettered titles, and his characteristic folksy wit and observations. He developed an impressive collection of historic tools which became the nucleus of the collection in the Sloane-Stanley Tool Museum in Kent, Connecticut.
Sloane died in New York in 1985, while walking down the street to a luncheon held in his honor.
Sloane's best known books are A Reverence for Wood, which examines the history and tools of woodworking, as well as the philosophy of the woodworker; The Cracker Barrel, which is a compendium of folk wit and wisdom; and Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake-1805, based on a diary he discovered at a local library book sale. His most famous painted work is probably the skyscape mural, Earth Flight Environment, which is still on display in the Independence Avenue Lobby in the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 12, 2019
We have loved our travel across Northern America, with Mr Sloane as our trail guide to the cold polar jet stream. I think the best review of this book is simply a quote from the closing chapter.
“When I first exclaimed that the sky was created for pure beholding, my scientific leanings did cause me to cringe a bit. I sounded overpoetic and even trite to myself. Yet, when I think of it, the sights and sounds of the countryside can be no accident. Just as sure as the eye is designed for seeing, it seems logical that there must be things designed to be seen.
In nature there are all sorts of warning signals designed to be seen (or, in the case of camouflage, designed not to be seen). But I think that nature didn’t stop just at warning signals: I am convinced that they sky and it’s clouds are things designed for man’s information and spiritual contentment. I am certain that the sky was designed to be seen by man.”
“When I first exclaimed that the sky was created for pure beholding, my scientific leanings did cause me to cringe a bit. I sounded overpoetic and even trite to myself. Yet, when I think of it, the sights and sounds of the countryside can be no accident. Just as sure as the eye is designed for seeing, it seems logical that there must be things designed to be seen.
In nature there are all sorts of warning signals designed to be seen (or, in the case of camouflage, designed not to be seen). But I think that nature didn’t stop just at warning signals: I am convinced that they sky and it’s clouds are things designed for man’s information and spiritual contentment. I am certain that the sky was designed to be seen by man.”
February 17, 2024
I would rate this book a 3.5 stars if I could. Now, I absolutely love Eric Sloane’s books and count them as treasures on my bookshelf. Unfortunately, this book was not what I had hoped for. When it was good, it was really good. When it was bad (by which I mean uninteresting), it made me not want to pick up the book again to continue reading. So many interesting tidbits throughout this book, but you have to wade through filler to find it.
Thankfully it was not a very long book. While most other books by Sloane I would highly recommend, you may want to pass on this one. - M
Thankfully it was not a very long book. While most other books by Sloane I would highly recommend, you may want to pass on this one. - M
December 4, 2013
An interesting collection of weather anecdotes and illustrations by the author.
This book is not a comprehensive introduction to telling the weather from observation but it is an anecdotal introduction to the subject and a reminder that such things are possible.
This short book follows one hypothetical progression from Canada to the Atlantic Northeast of a cP weather front, a common weather movement in North America. Along the way, Sloane stops the narration by a series of locations to share local weather lore & stories he has come across personally as a long time pilot, writer, and weatherman.
Eric Sloane wrote and illustrated numerous other books about the tools and technology vital to life in early USA, which may be of interest to you as well.
This book is not a comprehensive introduction to telling the weather from observation but it is an anecdotal introduction to the subject and a reminder that such things are possible.
This short book follows one hypothetical progression from Canada to the Atlantic Northeast of a cP weather front, a common weather movement in North America. Along the way, Sloane stops the narration by a series of locations to share local weather lore & stories he has come across personally as a long time pilot, writer, and weatherman.
Eric Sloane wrote and illustrated numerous other books about the tools and technology vital to life in early USA, which may be of interest to you as well.
March 2, 2008
An artist and weather geek wrote and illustrated this book on the weather from Alaska all the way east to New England. Diagrams and explanations paint a picture of the movement of wind and how it affects different people, but it's the storytelling that's the good thing here. It's not scientists talking here, but regular folks, telling yarns.
January 6, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! What a unique mix of storytelling, weather lore and science information. The mix was very captivating and interesting way to help tell the story of how weather patterns work. I liked the format of the book too, following an air mass through the US and passing over different people and circumstances. It made weather truly interesting. The author's drawing and illustrations also helped add to the understanding. I read it out loud with my 11 year old.
June 10, 2017
"you can't afford to overlook local lore; that local lore is an accumulation of knowledge from things that people have heard and seen."
More stories than what to look for, but a few tips and tricks along the way.
Would like to know if Sloane would have a different view on climate change if he had lived another thirty years.
More stories than what to look for, but a few tips and tricks along the way.
Would like to know if Sloane would have a different view on climate change if he had lived another thirty years.
March 13, 2025
“Yet, when I think of it, the sights and sounds of the countryside can be no accident. Just as sure as the eye is designed for seeing, it seems logical that there must be things designed to be seen.”
Eric Sloane does a lovely job of making the science of weather understandable, enjoyable, and within reach.
Eric Sloane does a lovely job of making the science of weather understandable, enjoyable, and within reach.
May 7, 2017
I really liked this book. I think that the author is a wonderful writer!
January 10, 2020
Interesting read with anecdotes that have helped us understand the weather better. I have a feeling my violation will prove better at weather prediction than I will!
March 6, 2019
I read this with my son for our weather unit. It was very appealing and enjoyable to read. Some of the science was a little confusing and we had to have google on stand by but the people were delightful.
January 3, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this little book. It is chocked full of stories that support the central concept of the book: understanding weather and it's effects. Though perhaps a little dated when it comes to commenting on global climate change, it is still very entertaining and Mr. Sloane is excellent at explaining the concepts that support understanding Canadian cold fronts and their impact on the people, animals and plants in their path.
October 10, 2009
This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever come across. I'm really interested in what was once a much more popular form - books with illustrations (not children's books). To see his drawings of storm formations, airplanes, the way the sky falls around the earth adds to the excitement and newness (for me) of studying the sky.
March 15, 2012
Beyond the climate change denial and slights against scientists, the anecdotes are charming and I enjoyed the collection very much.
Actually picked this book up on accident. I've used some of Sloane's other writing to help me with my art and thought this book might have tips on weather drawing. Glad for the mistake.
Actually picked this book up on accident. I've used some of Sloane's other writing to help me with my art and thought this book might have tips on weather drawing. Glad for the mistake.
December 7, 2014
I enjoyed it. The reading is easy but it was hard to follow a few times. I will probably have my younger kids read this as a free read before Eric Sloane's The Weather Book, maybe in 5th or 6th. Very good examples of how the weather affects us, and gentle encouragement to watch the skies.
May 21, 2011
An entertaining, reasonably informative read. There were some interesting tidbits, but I was hoping for more on reading clouds.
July 26, 2013
Wonderfully beautiful and wise book. Seek it out.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews