Sun and Storms: Canadian Summer Weather

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Fascination with our weather and its causes begins at an early age. This
has never been more evident than in recent times, when catastrophic
events such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita have dominated the news. Sun
and Storms is therefore a timely and welcome resource for parents and
teachers.

Each short chapter deals with a particular aspect of weather: sun and
wind, rain and clouds, thunder and lightning, tornadoes, etc. The final
chapter, “Wild Weather Facts,” which contains details such as that
the largest hailstone on record in Canada was the size of a softball,
and that the CN Tower gets struck by lightning 75 times each year, is
bound to be the most popular. The book is clearly written, with large
print and easy-to-understand explanations, and generously illustrated
with colourful diagrams, charts, and photos. Primary-grade children will
find it visually appealing and readily accessible.

A glossary of weather terms is included, as well as a pronunciation
guide. (I would question the syllabication of some of the words; e.g.,
for “atmosphere” the author suggests “at-mu-sfeer” instead of
the more common “at-mus-feer,” and for “evaporation” she
suggests emphasis on the second syllable instead of the fourth.)
Recommended.