Johanna Wagstaffe is an experienced meteorologist who wants to show her readers how a hurricane grows. She begins with Little Cloud, a tiny puff of white in a clear blue sky. Each type of cloud is displayed and labelled. But the focus is on only one in particular.
That cumulus cloud is very friendly, and born near Africa. A clear illustration of the water cycle ensures understanding of each individual part: condensation, precipitation and evaporation. Also included on the spread is information concerning groundwater and runoff, and two highlighted 'weather facts'.
It's a great start. The stages for the hurricane itself begin when the cloud moves out over warmer water and begins to get bigger and stronger. With each stage, further informative labels and captions are presented, always accompanied by useful weather facts. Named Nate when it reaches tropical storm status, it becomes bigger and more dangerous.
"Finally, Nate's winds were
strong enough that he became
a full hurricane! He loved his
spinning winds and towering
clouds, but his favorite part
was his eye."
By giving Little Cloud a personality, children are more invested in the stages. When conditions are perfect for a hurricane to build and cause destruction, many plans must be put in place. Then, there are times when conditions prevent it from unleashing its full power. People breathe a sigh of relief and the water cycle completes itself.
Very clear information is presented on each page, including many valuable facts. Accompanied by Julie McLaughlin's wonderful illustrations, it is a book that is accessible and descriptive without overwhelming the target audience. Anyone interested in worrisome weather will be intrigued and informed.
"Did you know that every drop
of water on our planet has been
recycling itself for four billion
years?"
Back matter includes a fact page, a photo of the author, and an author's note explaining her love of destructive weather and her reporting work.
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