Synergy: Weather

WEATHER describes the atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place such as sunshine, precipitation, wind, and temperature.

Read the recently published nonfiction science book for children, then learn more at the websites:

Part of the Lab for Kids series, PROFESSOR FIGGY’S WEATHER AND CLIMATE SCIENCE LAB FOR KIDS by Jim Noonan contains 52 family friendly activities exploring meteorology, earth systems, and climate change. Each of the six chapters explores a different topic including atmosphere, sun, rain, wind, severe weather, snow, and climate. Labs include easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions with useful photographs and other illustrations.

CLIMATE KIDS from NASA answers big questions about earth science topics including weather and climate, atmosphere, water, energy, plants and animals. This site contains games, activities, people, videos and climate bingo.

Go to https://climatekids.nasa.gov/

ARC courtesy of Quarry Books from Quarto Group.

Book Review: The Maloneys' Magical Weatherbox

THE MALONEYS’ MAGICAL WEATHERBOX by Nigel Quinlan is an unusual middle-grades fantasy adventure featuring wild weather, evildoers, and meteorological magic.

Ireland is stuck in Summer when the Weatherman’s special weatherbox is disconnected by a power hungry neighbor who wants control of the seasons. The Maloney family including children Neil, Liz, and Owen must fight and sacrifice in their battle with their evil competition and the angry elementals.

While the rural Irish setting is familiar, everything else about this unconventional tale is slightly out of kilter. From the mysterious tourist to the magical cat creature, Quinlan keeps readers guessing as they explore a weird world closely connected to our own. While some children will find this type of fantasy disorienting, others will enjoy suspending disbelief and immerse themselves in this fictional universe.

Librarians will find an audience for this strange story among children who enjoy magical situations, odd characters, and unusual weather phenomena. Those middle-grade youth with strong roots in reality and science may simply find the premise silly and nonsensical.

To learn more about Nigel Quinlan, go to http://nigelquinlan.tumblr.com/.

Published by Roaring Brook Press on July 28, 2015. ARC from Edelweiss.