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Danny Dunn #4
Danny Dunn and the Weather Machine
Who said nobody ever does anything about the weather? Danny Dunn does! Of course if there hadn't been a drought when Danny went to the weather bureau to return a radiosonde - maybe nothing would have happened. But has there ever been a time when Danny could contain his curiosity?
150 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
3 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Jay Williams
154 books41 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Jay Williams (May 31, 1914–July 12, 1978) was an American author born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Max and Lillian Jacobson. He cited the experience of growing up as the son of a vaudeville show producer as leading him to pursue his acting career as early as college. Between 1931 and 1934 he attended the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University where he took part in amateur theatrical productions.
Out of school and out of work during the end of the Depression, he worked as a comedian on the upstate New York Borscht Belt circuit. From 1936 until 1941, Jay Williams worked as a press agent for Dwight Deere Winman, Jed Harris and the Hollywood Theatre Alliance. And even though he played a feature role in the Cannes prize winning film, The Little Fugitive produced in 1953, he turned his attention to writing as a full time career after his discharge from the Army in 1945. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart. While serving in the Army he published his first book, The Stolen Oracle, in 1943.
Williams may be best-known for his young adult "Danny Dunn" science fiction/fantasy series which he co-authored with Raymond Abrashkin. Though Abrashkin died in 1960, he is listed as co-author of all 15 books of this series, which continued from 1956 until 1977. Jay Williams also wrote mysteries for young adults, such as The Stolen Oracle, The Counterfeit African, and The Roman Moon Mystery.
In all, he published at least 79 books including 11 picture books, 39 children's novels, 7 adult mysteries, 4 nonfiction books, 8 historical novels and a play.
Williams and his wife Barbara Girsdansky were married June 3, 1941. They had a son, Christopher ("Chris"), and a daughter, Victoria. Jay Williams died at age 64 from a heart attack while on a trip to London on July 12, 1978.
Jay Williams (May 31, 1914–July 12, 1978) was an American author born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Max and Lillian Jacobson. He cited the experience of growing up as the son of a vaudeville show producer as leading him to pursue his acting career as early as college. Between 1931 and 1934 he attended the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University where he took part in amateur theatrical productions.
Out of school and out of work during the end of the Depression, he worked as a comedian on the upstate New York Borscht Belt circuit. From 1936 until 1941, Jay Williams worked as a press agent for Dwight Deere Winman, Jed Harris and the Hollywood Theatre Alliance. And even though he played a feature role in the Cannes prize winning film, The Little Fugitive produced in 1953, he turned his attention to writing as a full time career after his discharge from the Army in 1945. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart. While serving in the Army he published his first book, The Stolen Oracle, in 1943.
Williams may be best-known for his young adult "Danny Dunn" science fiction/fantasy series which he co-authored with Raymond Abrashkin. Though Abrashkin died in 1960, he is listed as co-author of all 15 books of this series, which continued from 1956 until 1977. Jay Williams also wrote mysteries for young adults, such as The Stolen Oracle, The Counterfeit African, and The Roman Moon Mystery.
In all, he published at least 79 books including 11 picture books, 39 children's novels, 7 adult mysteries, 4 nonfiction books, 8 historical novels and a play.
Williams and his wife Barbara Girsdansky were married June 3, 1941. They had a son, Christopher ("Chris"), and a daughter, Victoria. Jay Williams died at age 64 from a heart attack while on a trip to London on July 12, 1978.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 25, 2014
Prepped the fourth volume of Danny Dunn adventures for e-book form. I think I read this one as a kid because I have vague memories of the cloud-seeding sequence.
In this volume, meteorology is the focus as Danny accidentally discovers that Professor Bullfinch's Ionic Transmitter (IT for short) can cause miniature rainstorms - and this while the town of Midston is suffering a drought. Through various misadventures involving a local meteorologist (who the trio think is a split personality - but really he just has a grumpy twin), a big, friendly Saint Bernard named Vanderbilt and the usual interference from Snitcher Phillips, Danny and cohorts succeed in breaking the drought.
Interesting bits in this one: Professor Bullfinch is away in Washington D.C. for almost the whole book and Dr. Grimes doesn't make an appearance at all (no Bullfinch and Grimes also means no celebratory wrap-up fiddle and piccolo jam-fest). Joe watches horror movies at night (including GRANSON OF THE WOLF MAN) - even though his parents don't let him, making Joe Pearson possibly the first literary appearance of a representative for the "Monster Kid" generation. Joe, because of said movies, floats the idea that the mood swings the kids experience from local meteorologist Mr. Elswing may be due to a split personality. “How do we know what he’ll be like next time? He might try to stab us with a weather vane, or something” says Irene, surprisingly. Danny's reckless nature actually earns him a reprimand of physical labor from Prof. Bullfinch at the end of the book (who really should be getting tired of having to tell him to think twice by this point). Mrs. Dunn's soup is ruined by a miniature raincloud. This was a slightly lack-luster installment, I felt, although seeing Snitcher take a mini-lightning bolt to the skull was kind cool and Williams obviously spent some time with a Saint Bernard because he perfectly captures their dopey, goodhearted natures (Vanderbilt has a bit of a crush on Irene). Next, it's time to take a trip to the ocean floor.....
In this volume, meteorology is the focus as Danny accidentally discovers that Professor Bullfinch's Ionic Transmitter (IT for short) can cause miniature rainstorms - and this while the town of Midston is suffering a drought. Through various misadventures involving a local meteorologist (who the trio think is a split personality - but really he just has a grumpy twin), a big, friendly Saint Bernard named Vanderbilt and the usual interference from Snitcher Phillips, Danny and cohorts succeed in breaking the drought.
Interesting bits in this one: Professor Bullfinch is away in Washington D.C. for almost the whole book and Dr. Grimes doesn't make an appearance at all (no Bullfinch and Grimes also means no celebratory wrap-up fiddle and piccolo jam-fest). Joe watches horror movies at night (including GRANSON OF THE WOLF MAN) - even though his parents don't let him, making Joe Pearson possibly the first literary appearance of a representative for the "Monster Kid" generation. Joe, because of said movies, floats the idea that the mood swings the kids experience from local meteorologist Mr. Elswing may be due to a split personality. “How do we know what he’ll be like next time? He might try to stab us with a weather vane, or something” says Irene, surprisingly. Danny's reckless nature actually earns him a reprimand of physical labor from Prof. Bullfinch at the end of the book (who really should be getting tired of having to tell him to think twice by this point). Mrs. Dunn's soup is ruined by a miniature raincloud. This was a slightly lack-luster installment, I felt, although seeing Snitcher take a mini-lightning bolt to the skull was kind cool and Williams obviously spent some time with a Saint Bernard because he perfectly captures their dopey, goodhearted natures (Vanderbilt has a bit of a crush on Irene). Next, it's time to take a trip to the ocean floor.....
February 17, 2017
Danny Dunn gets involved with making rain this time. As usual, he jumps into something without thinking first and has a bunch of adventures with his friends Joe and Irene. Maybe it didn't seem as funny to me since the premise was that the area was having drought, which is exactly what has been the situation here in S. Calif for a long time now. It hit too close to home. Of course, there is a formula to it so reading one after the other gets to be a bit boring. It still involved a lot of good basic science and taught a lot of basic science about weather in a very painless manner. I may stop reading these for now. They are pleasant stories and did an excellent job explaining science and making it interesting to kids at the time. Maybe I'll go back to them later.....
May 25, 2023
Reading the Danny Dunn stories takes me back to me childhood when I occasionally would be able to buy Scholastic Books from the catalogue my elementary teacher would pass out periodically.
All the books in the series are about the adventures Danny Dunn has with his friends Joe and Irene using a device or discovery Prof Bullfinch made in his laboratory that was attached to the house where Bullfinch, Danny and Danny's mother lived. Danny always gets into trouble due to his impetuous nature when he uses one of Prof Bullfinch's devices to try some new scheme.
In all the books the science is highly improbable. In this one much more improbable that most of the others. Danny takes a device of Prof Bullfinch to create rain storms. This is very good because the community is going through a serious drought. By accident Danny discover that the machine Prof Bullfinch created can charge iconic particulars (or something like that) in a moist atmosphere to create rain and storms.
While there is a scientific aspect to the book, the plot takes a lot of suspension of disbelief. Everything works out for the good in the end.
This is fun, leisurely read, and I enjoyed going back to my childhood days when science was fun and kids could have all sorts of adventures with science.
All the books in the series are about the adventures Danny Dunn has with his friends Joe and Irene using a device or discovery Prof Bullfinch made in his laboratory that was attached to the house where Bullfinch, Danny and Danny's mother lived. Danny always gets into trouble due to his impetuous nature when he uses one of Prof Bullfinch's devices to try some new scheme.
In all the books the science is highly improbable. In this one much more improbable that most of the others. Danny takes a device of Prof Bullfinch to create rain storms. This is very good because the community is going through a serious drought. By accident Danny discover that the machine Prof Bullfinch created can charge iconic particulars (or something like that) in a moist atmosphere to create rain and storms.
While there is a scientific aspect to the book, the plot takes a lot of suspension of disbelief. Everything works out for the good in the end.
This is fun, leisurely read, and I enjoyed going back to my childhood days when science was fun and kids could have all sorts of adventures with science.
November 29, 2022
This has a pretty bad example of how Danny never learns. He is told that he mustn't touch something but figures it's OK if he gets somebody else to touch it. I think even the 10 year olds this was aimed at would see that that is not OK.
Even after something bad happens because he (anf his friends) misused a device the Professor made,
they do it again.
The science in this one is more silly than science.
Not my favorite.
Even after something bad happens because he (anf his friends) misused a device the Professor made,
they do it again.
The science in this one is more silly than science.
Not my favorite.
February 24, 2025
This fourth novel in the Danny Dunn Science Fiction/Adventure series is sure to please the aspiring scientists in the family. There's meteorological information laced with humor in this book that fit together well in this book for curious children and parents. The book was published in 1959 and can still be found in libraries, and maybe in bookstores (if you can find a bookstore.)
October 24, 2021
Moderately interesting book in the series of the scientific whiz kid and his friends. The kids interacting with a Saint Bernard is the highlight of this book. The plot that sees them use one of the Professor's inventions seems to be mostly down to luck and very little invention of their own.
October 21, 2020
Great to read to my kids!
My kids love these books, and they’re so fun to read out loud. Fun adventures. Good times. Highly recommend this series for future scientists.
My kids love these books, and they’re so fun to read out loud. Fun adventures. Good times. Highly recommend this series for future scientists.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews