WEATHER

An overview of weather and its
causes, with pull-tab scenes that switch back and forth.

In neatly squared-off bursts of facts
and general observations the survey opens with a look at the sun’s origin and
effects. On successive thematic spreads it then introduces rain, wind, snow and
ice, and finally thunder and lightning. Along with being a bit vague on the
difference between weather and climate, Otter frequently
oversimplifies—claiming, for instance, on the same leaf that a lightning bolt
“travels downward” and that negative atmospheric charges anthropomorphically “search
for” and “sense” positive ones. She does offer at least basic references to
weather norms and extremes, spiced with specific temperature and wind speed
records or other statistics, plus brief explanations of important concepts such
as the water cycle, acid rain, and even the “Goldilocks Zone.” Tolson goes for
stylized nature scenes in her simple cartoon pictures; some of the rare, small
human figures seem to have dark skin. The front cover and each verso feature a
larger illustration that is transformed by the pull of a ribbon…usually in an
innocuous change from, for example, daytime to night, but in one disquieting
instance showing a tornado-threatened family packing up a car that is next seen
flying through the air.

Sketchy but not (quite) as bland as
it seems. (Informational novelty. 6-8)