Sunshine and Drought

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5–Describing the mundane as well as the more extreme aspects of their phenomena, and including science and everyday experiences, these books include chapter spreads such as “The Water Cycle” and “What Is a Flood?” (Rain), and “Sleet and Hail” and “Cleaning Up” (Snow). Sidebars describe the “Unbelievable!” or add to the scientific discussion. Much of the information is repetitive and unnecessary. Children do not need a full page description of raingear, or a large photo of people waiting in an airport during a snowstorm. In addition, many of the photographs are unclear and/or washed out. The well-outlined activities included at the end of each title, such as making a windsock and measuring and charting temperature, help to rescue the presentations, but solid science-fair material is widely available outside of these weak offerings.