Weather (National Audubon Society First Field Guide) - Hardcover

Most of us take weather for granted--except when it gets extreme. But there are fascinating weather effects happening all the time, and a patient observer can see some very interesting things, like waterspouts, golfball-sized hail, and lenticular (saucer-shaped) clouds. This guide is your key to identifying and understanding weather phenomena. The first part of the book explains what weather is, how it is measured, and how you can build your own observation devices at home. The next section is a thorough guide to cloud types, storms, and precipitation that will have you thinking like a meteorologist in no time. Lastly, there's a well-organized reference section with a glossary and more weather resources. Like all the guides in this series (Wildflowers, Insects, Birds, Rocks and Minerals, and Mammals), this First Field Guide to weather is a great family resource, perfect for kids and adults. (Ages 8 and up) --Therese Littleton

Grade 4-8-Colorful, attractive, and comfortable to hold, these field guides will be welcomed by those who delight in crisp, color photos and snippets of information presented in tidy chapters. Mammals is arranged so "look-alikes" appear together, such as the common raccoon teamed with the similar ringtail and white-nosed coati. Thumbnail-sized range maps are included, as are drawings of the animals' tracks. Weather includes facts on a wide variety of phenomena, from the expected spectrum of clouds and fronts to the more unusual dust devils and green flash. In both, the texts are occasionally printed over photo images, making them difficult to decipher. Each book has a glossary, a list of further readings (quite excellent in Weather), pertinent videos and discs, related Web sites, and organizations to contact for additional data. Both are indexed, though the index in Weather is somewhat brief. Well organized, eye-catching, and informative, these volumes are sure to capture the popularity long enjoyed by the "Golden Guide" series (Golden).
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.