Product Description
This Peterson First guide contains easy-to-understand answers to questions about the weather, such as why the sky is blue, what makes it rain, and what causes rainbows. The book also features 116 color photographs that show how to identify clouds, with explanations of what each cloud type tells about the weather to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Handy little book
I definitely recommend this book as an introduction to weather and clouds. It's inexpensive and small enough to be portable. The illustrations are nice. The text straightforward. It was especially helpful to me spending time on an ornithology project needing weather descriptions, including cloud types, every hour.

Fairly good cloud book
I have seen one other book that I thought did a better job (and can't remember the name of it, unfortunately) but this one is pretty good.It's not too technical (although more so than the other one I saw) and has some good information about clouds and weather.

Wonderful Observations
Vincent Schaefer was an incredible individual. He was a scientist, observer and teacher. His photographs were taken, then developed/printed in his downstairs darkroom in Schenectady, NY. He had great insight into the physical world and could identify and convey its importance. Reader's share his remarkable insight and clarity when they choose one of his books.

When Science IS Art
Everyone should own this wonderful book. The writing is clear and almost poetic and the photos show what's up there. Spirituality is in our minds; the clouds are the metaphor.

Great for beginners!
This is an extremely handy book for making super quick predictions on the skies.Shows all sorts of different cloud formations and what they're bringing with them.Also nice photos of thunderstorms, lightning, etc.Good one to pick up just because. ... Read more

Product Description
What does it mean when there is a corona around the moon? How do you tell the difference between stratocumulus and nimbostratus clouds? THE WEATHER IDENTIFICATION HANDBOOK is an essential guide to the many different types of phenomena that may be observed, and also gives brief details of the weather that may be expected. The following topics are covered in a reader-friendly format:

Ø Cloud classification
Ø How to identify different cloud types and how they relate to forthcoming weather
Ø How clouds are formed
Ø Optical phenomena
Ø Precipitation
Ø Wind
Ø Severe weather
Ø Weather systems
Ø Satellite images and weather maps

Full of beautiful color photographs and diagrams, THE WEATHER IDENTIFICATION HANDBOOK is essential for the outdoor photographer, adventurer, or meteorological enthusiast. It is also perfect for any parent whose child asks the proverbial question, "Why is the sky blue?"

... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good and succinct
I was hoping for more diagrams and illustrations, but the text is good. Quite a few typos, though.

Great for Cloud Classifications
If you are interested in learning and classifying weather phenomenon this book is for you. The focus of the book is on clouds and it does a great job differentiating the ten major cloud types and describing the sub-species and varieties. The full color photographic illustrations are outstanding. The author does not get into too much detail about the science behind the phenomena, but that is not the intention.

"Now how fun is this?" The children exclaimed:
Such a statement is music to the ears of anyone who strives to encourage curiosity and promotes learning.We carry The Weather Identification Handbook with us in the car, identifying cloud formations, making our own weather predictions.We can grow with the book, now reading highlights, progressing into greater detail and increasing focus with age and ability.Isn't learning that sneaks up as fun, great?

Linda's meteorology text
This serves as the text for my meteorology class.It is quite thorough and offers many useful graphics to help seal the various theories into my brain.

Not what you might expect
I am reluctant to criticize any book for being something other than what I expected it to be. I was looking for a 'basic meteorology' book. I wanted a better understanding of fronts, high- and low-pressure areas, wind patterns, world weather patterns, the influence of ocean currents, etc.

If you're looking for weather principles, this book is not for you. Unfortunately (for me), the book takes a taxonomic approach to weather. Approx. 2/3rds of the pages are dedicated to identifying and classifying various cloud formations and optical phenomena. If you read assiduously, you'll never mistake stratus for stratocumulus, cirrus for cirrocumulus, and, aha, there's some altostratus undulatus! And you'll learn of Corona, Glory, and Heiligenschein. Broad weather patterns and principles get short shrift, if they get any shrift at all. About page 178 (out of 192, incl. bibliography, credits, and index) you'll finally get into a discussion of air masses, fronts, depressions, etc.

Publishers are usually responsible for choosing the title. This book is mis-titled. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Science / Earth Sciences / Meteorology ... Read more

Product Description
THE “DEFINITIVE” (VANITY FAIR ) BIOGRAPHY OF LEGEND LENA HORNE—THE CELEBRATED STAR OF STAGE, MUSIC, AND FILM WHO BLAZED A TRAIL FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HOLLYWOOD AND BEYOND

Drawing on a wealth of unmined material and hundreds of interviews— one of them with Lena Horne herself—critically acclaimed author James Gavin gives us a “deftly researched” (The Boston Globe) and authoritative portrait of the American icon. Horne broke down racial barriers in the entertainment industry in the 1940s and ’50s even as she was limited mostly to guest singing appearances in splashy Hollywood musicals. Incorporating insights from the likes of Ruby Dee, Tony Bennett, Diahann Carroll, and Bobby Short, Stormy Weather reveals the many faces of this luminous, complex, strong-willed, passionate, even tragic woman—a stunning talent who inspired such giants as Barbra Streisand, Eartha Kitt, and Aretha Franklin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Excellent Read!
Wow, what a life she lead and what courage and determination this lady had!I am surprised there has been so little written about this legend.While some of the treatment she received is shocking her strength will inspire you. I wish they would turn this into a movie-Alicia Keys would be perfect!

Lena Horne: A Life Celebrated through storms & triumpths
In 1981 when I heard that my aunt was going to see Lena Horne in her B'way show the Lady and Her Music I was stunned, but of course I could not afford to go.

When I wanted something to read on Lena Horne, I discovered this book, and when I got it Ms.Horne's was still alive, when I finished it she was dead about three days.

I cried through the ending because of the recent passing of Ms. Horne and felt that she was still talking to me after she passed. this book was well written not because of its opinions but because of its factual content and ocassional inserts of Ms. Horne's spoken dialogue. It bring us further into what life was like for black people even if they seemed to be passing like Lena was, but .....inspite of the Cotton Club where life was like being enslaved, Lena called servitude,her days in Hollywood stifled her talent as as actress (inspite of two good acting roles "Stormy Weather & Cabin In the sky") her subsequent roles as a decorum pillar in movie musicals was a far cry from the cotton club days where MGM attempted to glamourize her.But this did not sit well with Lena as she was never given a decent acting role, where she would interact with white people.If you want to count the role in 1969 with Richard Widmark "Death of a Gunfighter it was her last until the wiz.This book reveals a lot, for instance the conflicts with Ethel Waters, her friendship with Ava Gardner, her abandoning those close to her, her secret marriage to Lennie Heydon, her conflicts and dislike of Frank Sinatra, being blacklisted from performing.The civil rights movement that made her come out of herself, especially with the murders of her admired leaders Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, Martin, & Kennedy. No wonder she got harder as the years went by she certaianly endured a lot of pain, and it showed in her performances.But the books ends with Lena saying if you don't feel pain you are dead.her pain ended in spite of all her triumpths on Mother Day May 9th, 2010.A Marvelous performer inside and out.Lena thank you for allowing us to lookinto your life even if it was told by a third person Mr.Gavin.You were our black star who lived a lifetime, and we are proud of you.

Not so stormy
Rest in Heavenly Peace, Ms. Horne!I am reading both Mr. Gavin's and Ms. Lumet Buckley's books simultaneously.Both Mr. Gavin and Ms. Lumet Buckley wrote excellent books.I am a woman in my early fifties and, while I am certainly aware of Ms. Horne, I never fully understood.She endured so much racism, both familial and industry-wise and I never understood her name tags:beautiful, angry, distant and aloof, mesmerizing.Like so many, she was from a dysfunctional family, unloved, manipulated. I've been watching performances of Ms. Horne on the talk show circuit (Johnny Carson and Rosie O'Donnell)and her t.v. and club performances.I TOTALLY GET IT NOW.I have sympathy for her in her grief.Losing the three most important men in her life in a year or so, was devastating.I sympathize with her with the difficult relationships with both her children and how she felt guilty about the drug use and death of her only son.One thing I always admired about Ms. Horne was that she knew she was a black woman, no matter what anyone else tried to make her out to be ("Egyptian" makeup?!) No matter what else, one thing is certain:she is one of the most revered icons of Black America.We've been missing her for the last ten years and we will miss her more now that she's gone.

RIP Miss Lena Horne!
I really enjoyed this book alot but I must admit I couldn't enjoy it fully because in my opinion I'm not really sure that the author understands what it means to be black in the US then and even today, he seems to think that Lena was not hindered at all because of her race and that she failed with her movie career through MGM simply because she could not act, to me that's a load of horse you know what, anyone can look at her performance in Cabin in the sky and see that she had genuine acting talent especially when you keep in mind that MGM did not give her the same grooming that it did for it's white stars, I seethed with anger reading passage after passage of how Lena, complained, whined, made up stories of victimization and basically played the race card throughout her career, The author doesn't understand that as a black woman Lena played the only cards that were given to her, all blacks do. I think this book had the potential to become one of my favorites if the author had a deeper understanding of his subject and the black experience.
Lena Horne has passed away this past Mother's day, what a fitting day for a woman who truly was the mother of us all, I salute you dear Lena, you did the best you could with what you were given and I admire you with all my heart, I hope you are at peace and with the great loves of your life; your Father, Son and your dear sweet Billy Strayhorne

A Top-notch Bio of a glamourous artist
Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena HorneAuthor James Gavin does a splendid job with his research and writing of the career and life of the extremely talented and beautiful Lena Horne in "Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne." Mr. Gavin's words take you behind the scenes and let you too feel the frustration, anger and drive felt by Ms. Horne during her career when allowed by the studios to do a number or two in films where she was never given the chance to fully shine to the best of her ability--her fans almost got a "tease" in each film in which she appeared, as she was never the star. As a pioneer african-american woman she had to fight (like so many others) and her bitter disappointment comes through and makes the story even more tragic. In spite of what the Washington Post said, I found Mr. Gavin's second book (like the first) exceptionally well written, researched and I couldn't put the book down. It made me angry at the powers-that-be that Ms. Horne wasn't given her due, but we find that is so often the case back when racism ruled the land. The book goes into depth on her life and career and leaves the reader with a fine sense of what Ms. Horne struggled through. Fortunately for us her work is on film & CD's, but what more of her talents were ignored is indeed a tragedy. While her desire to act was totally blown off by the studios and roles that she may have excelled in were played often times by white actresses (something that I have never, ever understood) the reader once again senses the great frustration of being "passed over" for the "safer" white actress. This book is a fabulous journey of a life of a woman who had the talent and beauty but wasn't given her due because of the racism of the day. It is a tragic story, and at the same time, an historic account of the days when Jim Crow was the law of the land and how through determination and show-casing her great talents, Ms. Horne ultimately, proudly showed the world how one talented Lady behaves! This is a powerful book and I highly recommend you delve into its pages, learn and forget yourself in the life of Lady Lena. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive guide to American weather provides the latest information on computer forecasting, explanations on how events in space affect Earth's weather, reasons for our increasingly wild weather, coverage of recent hurricanes, and more.75,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Okay, but not great.
This book is okay.

Pros:
- Easy to understand presentation of material.
- Lots of color pictures.
- Wide selection of information.

Cons:
- I don't like how the book has inserts that break up the reading of the main material.
- I don't like how pictures are occasionally referenced by text multiple pages away.
- I skip the multi-page inserts on people, it is not weather information, and not interesting to me.

The book is cheap, and does do a good job of explaining quite a bit about weather. If you want an easy to understand presentation of material with basic explanations and lots of pictures this book is good.

I was hoping more for a meat and potatoes text book style approach to learning weather.

Okay book, but not what I was looking for.

Factual errors
This book looks pretty good overall--seems to cover the necessary topics.All in all, it probably explains many things well, but I don't know, because I immediately found errors that caused me to stop reading.

I was looking for a good explanation for the global air currents (other than the simplistic "heating at the equator, cooling at the poles") for a group of naturalists.On pages 13-16, the book says that the sun's energy warms the air.This is not so:The sun heats the earth--not the air.Our atmosphere is virtually transparent to the sun's incoming energy (rays).The earth re-radiates infrared energy, which heats the earth's greenhouse gases; that is how the air gets heated.

A few paragraphs later (p. 16), the author states that the atmosphere's "heat engine" is analogous to an automobile's internal-combustion engine, where--to paraphrase--power is produced as the result of the engine's cylinders alternating between being hot and cooler.This is not at all how an internal-combustion engine works!

With these two factual errors immediately staring me in the face, I put the book down and continued my search elsewhere.

With so much so wrong in so few paragraphs, I cannot trust the rest of the book.

Good but not great
This is only weather science book I have ever read. This book is written for the layman one can see how complex this area of science truly is. The author does a good job of taking a very complicated field of Science and making it understandable to the average person. However, this book is outdated on some topics like Tornados and did not really help me understand them.

Overall, weather science is not my favorite field and I found the book both interesting and boring. I tend to like reading more of the colorful science like Evolution and Astronomy books. Still, this book I actually read very slowly and it was still difficult to absorb everything.
The Author does a great job with understanding thunderstorms and Hurricanes.While I will never understand every detail this book greatly helped me understand the BASIC science of weather.
IF you get this - better to read chapters of interest than read the whole book. Its short the book but it packs a lot of info and can get very dry fast.
From what I See on the book stand this book is by far the best one out there. However, your better off getting the new and improved version by the author that came out in 2009. This book is 1997. I dont have the energy to read the new one. This was tough enough for me.

Very good explanations and diagrams
I was looking for good diagrams and smart explanations for a book I'm writing, and The Weather Book delivers. Very smart illustrations, and in-depth discussions of weather, water, and other influences on our weather were very helpful. I'm a little distracted by some of the articles that cover weather history, but I've been reading it from the index forward, using it more as an encyclopedia than a linear book, and I'm very happy.

Don't Judge a Book by its Color
Like an Impressionist painting, a cursory glance at this book might make it appear you are viewing a highly-detailed piece of work, but upon closer inspection it's revealed to be little more than collection of seemingly random components. If you want to step back and dedicate endless hours of reading in order to get little more than a general overview of weather, then this book will do the trick. However, if you want anything close to a thorough understanding of meteorological events, I suggest you look elsewhere.

All the big, colorful and user-friendly-looking graphics are deceptive, as are the many sidebar stories and small sub-sections that suggest everything is explained in easy-to-understand building blocks. In truth, this book is a frustrating mess. It is not cohesive; very little follows in a logical format. Using arithmetic as an analogy, if this were a basic math book, a chapter might start by patiently explaining how one plus two equals three. Right when you think you have a firm grasp of this concept, the next sub-section would begin with the introduction of calculus: the presumed assumption being that since you can fathom basic addition, you can now extrapolate everything between it and calculus. It's not that the book is lacking in information, nor that it contains too much. It's merely a matter of how the information is presented. It's almost as if the author, a Mr. Jack Williams of USA Today, does not truly expect you to absorb or understand this information, so he simply tosses it within the pages for good measure; obligatorily, if you will. "Okay, I'll just have to take your word for it," is all a reader can ultimately say with a sigh after wrestling with one of his vague explanations of a crucial weather phenomenon.

For that reason, this attractive book more or less "pretends" to teach you about weather when, in fact, all it's really doing is telling you about it. To that end, all these aforementioned graphics (which make the book look so appealing) often create more confusion than clarity when coupled with the text. Sometimes they seem wholly unrelated to the text; sometimes they seem to contradict the text; sometimes they simply seem utterly pointless.

The best thing about the book, however, was that it served as a jumping-off-point for online research into the topics and concepts it presented. However, a "For Dummies" or "For Idiots" book would serve the same purpose, but without the time-consuming pretense that it was a comprehensive exploration of the subject of weather.

So, again, if you want something that looks good on your coffee table and is fun to glance at every once in a while, go for it. But if you really want to fully embrace what's happening in the skies above, don't waste your time with The Weather Book. ... Read more

Product Description
Ready-to-Go Activities, Games, Literature Selections, Poetry and Everything You Need for a Complete Theme Unit
Children learn about weather with easy-to-do, innovative activities and games.Plus poster. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

not my favorite..but you might like it
I love many of the other books in the discovery series...I just thought this one wasn't quite as concise and didn't keep it in our little ones' library. But, you may like it.

Pretty...but pretty worthless
These books were originally written for a French audience, and so unless your climate matches that of France, the statements about the weather that accompanies each season will be inaccurate!"Spring is the season of mild, showery weather"...summer is a time of brief thunderstorms...beaches aren't cloudy for long...autumn is "cool" and "damp"...and it snows in the winter.In addition, like virtually all the books in this series, it contains factual errors--"no two snowflakes are alike."That's substituting folklore for fact, which is common with these books.


The good points:

-The illustrations are lovely

-There is a brief, accurate (as far as it goes) description of fog, rainbows, and snow ("ice crystals")

-There is a discussion of the seasons, even if all the details are unlikely to match your climate.

This saves it--barely--from one star.

Papa..Why does it rain?
Our 4 year old son started asking why we have rain, snow, cloudy and sunny weather. As an active sailor, I am constatnly confronted with the forces of nature and I explain a lot of the mysteries of weather to many adults. I tried to unveil the magic of weather to my son but he did not quite comprehend what I was talking about. After recieving this book he took great interest in looking at the pictures and playing with the transparencies on each page to better understand the environment around him. The author has created a small, informative and entertaining book with illistrations that allow children to remember through pictures. This is a great book for young children and adults to read together.

weather and seasons
I found this book while looking for books to use in my seasons unit. I automaticaly fell in love with it.The author does a wonderful job using plastic paper images to represent the changes that occur throughout the seasons.This helps children visualize everything from spring showers and thunderstorms, to rainbows, to the freezing of a pond in the winter.I used this book in my kindergarten class, and they were fascinated by the illustrations that went along with the literature.

Weather for all ages
The book Weather in the 'First Discovery Book Series' provides a fun introduction to weather that is suitable for children of a wide range of ages. It is an clever concept to use transparent flaps to demonstrate howweather can change the feel of a scene. Although my son is only two, heloves to flip the clear plastic leaves and watch the weather turn fromcloudy to rainy or from frosty to snowy. He has learned many facts aboutweather from this book and loves to comment on what the current conditionsoutside are. Clearly, though, this book will be even more appropriate foran older child as it includes fun scientific facts which help themunderstand a few basic concepts about weather. Thus it should provideentertainment and education for many years to come. ... Read more

Product Description
Check the forecast for the series that's "an addictive force of nature that will suck you in ." (News and Sentinel)

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin and her new husband, the Djinn David, are running from a malevolent hurricane bent on destroying her. Joined by an army of fellow Wardens and Djinn onboard a hijacked luxury liner, Joanne has lured the storm into furious pursuit. But even their combined magic may not be enough to stop it-nor the power-mad ex-Weather Warden controlling it... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Jammed Packed
Now that Joanne has been claimed by a demon mark, she really cannot be trusted. Still, she sticks to her main character trait of always having to save the world, and sets out with the rest of the wardens to go and try to stop Bad Bob. I can honestly say I never expected the man behind the sentinels would be Bad Bob. It is kind-of ironic that the man who really started Joanne's crusade to save the world would be the one to show up in the end, and mark her with yet another demon. It will take everything she has, plus a little insurance to ensure Joanne doesn't become the conduit of destruction Bad Bob wants her to be.

It seems no matter what Joanne and David do, some outside force keeps trying to rip them apart. I had hoped their wedding would somehow give them five minutes of peace and happiness. This was a pretty foolish hope considering she planned the wedding to draw her enemies out, but it still would have been nice. Even through this book, they don't really get to spend much time at all in marital bliss, but they do seem to make good "use" of the time they do get. Sometimes the heat dies down in characters over times, but that is definitely not the case here.

I was pretty disturbed over seeing Joanne's dark side. I understand it really wasn't her, but the demon mark controlling her. It just was really hard to read when she was doing such horrible things. But, being the fighter she is, it never truly consumed her, there was always some part of her still in there. When she does get control back, the guilt consumes her even though she had no choice.

While there were a few moments of levity, this book was jammed packed with action, danger, and despair. It had more than a few shocking moments, with the ending being the worst of them all. Its going to take a lot for Joanne and David to dig themselves out of this mess, if they can at all. Be prepared for one heck of a fast paced read that looks to be gearing up for one heck of a finale.

14 yrs
Anything written by Rachel Caine gets 5 stars from my 14 yr old daughter, so I love her work!

Really good
This series is consistently good, and the last book lives up to the rest. That's all.

Highly entertaining
Ok, so Cape Storm is not a masterpiece.There were some pretty big things about this book that really irritated me (like why Jo did this and not that and if she did something earlier why didn't she think of doing it again, and seriously if she vibrated all the skeletal ghost thingees and made them shatter why the hell didn't Rahel's bottle shatter at the same time and since it didn't then why didn't she do the vibration thing once she saw her bottle!?) But I love the Weather Warden series as a whole and it has been enormously entertaining for me.I was entertained the whole time I was reading this book (and all the others). I couldn't put it down, which sometimes is all that matters for a good story.I love the characters (David and Lewis, even Kevin and Cherise and all the Djinn).Although, I'm getting over Jo (and the whole the world needs to be saved Jo could turn evil storyline), I'd rather learn more about David or any of the other djinn.I am seriously annoyed and excited that we have yet another cliffhanger and have to wait until August for the next installment.

I've read this before...
Let me start at the beginning...I first started Rachel Caine's phenomenal Weather Warden series a little over a month ago -pretty much on a whim. I instantly fell in love with Joanne Baldwin -the awesome, butt-kicking heroine -and her wild Warden life. I quickly devoured all of the subsequent novels up to Cape Storm, which is supposedly the second-to-last book in the series (Weather Warden book 9 is already scheduled for an August 2010 release on Amazon).

This may be why I had some trouble with Cape Storm. If you waited a year to read this novel after Gale Force, than all of the repetition between Cape Storm and the last few Weather Warden novels (particularly Gale Force and Thin Air) would probably not be so fresh in your mind. But since I literally put down the last book and picked up this one, they seemed to blur together into a story that I've already read before (multiple times) in this series.

While the story still has plenty of fast-paced fun and action that fans have come to expect from this series -Joanne's honeymoon to her Djinn lover David has to be postponed (again, the couple can't be happy), but she can't worry about it too much because the world is ending (again). Joanne wrestles with evil/good and in control/out of control conflict (this gives me flashes of Thin Air) and the story ends on yet another cliffhanger.

Frankly, this should have been the last book in this series. It really feels like the Weather Warden universe is to getting exhausted and there are simply no more stories to tell. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduces basic weather terms and concepts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Weather Words
Love this book! I use it when introducing weather to my Kindergarten students. It can be used in all primary grades. Gail Gibbons is a wonderful author.

A great way to explain the weather!
Gail Gibbons has the best books for kids.I can see why educators use this books in the classroom.The concepts are broken down into easily understandable parts; great for little kids!

One of the BEST books about weather for the elementary set
I checked out a gob of weather books when teaching my first-graders.This one was by far the best.It explained the weather in a simple, easy manner with wonderful illustrations.But it was not a 'baby' book.The author covered a wide variety of weather topics in language that engaged and taught.In a few short, clear sentences we were able to learn how to identify clouds or the types of wind and rain storms.I plan on purchasing this book since it will be used over and over for reference and for just plain fun.

Great book for young students learning about weather.
I am a student teahcer.When I had to plan a unit for my kindergarteners about weather, I did not know how to teach it on their level.This book really helped me to come up with the right words to help the studentsunderstand what I was trying to get across to them.GREAT BOOK!!! Ichecked it out from the library at the school I am working at; however, IWILL be getting my own personal copy.Thank you Gail!!! ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides weather information quickly and surely, because it focusesupon what is going on directly overhead--the actual clouds now on view in thesky, the actual sequences currently developing. 137 color, 19 black-and-whitephotographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good Cloud Identification
Excellent book.Using this along with a couple others to get back into weather forcastingThank you for an excellent book

Superb, portable, and incomplete
I bought this book in preparation for an advanced mariner's meteorology course, and could not have made this comment without having first gained that higher level of knowledge.

This is a suberb book with two major flaws:

1)It sticks to the two-dimensional depiction of weather that is common to the average person.Although there are a couple of illustrations showing altitude, the author could easily have put in a few pages on the rotation of the earth, the 500 mb level, and how weather on the surface cannot be understood without underestanding what is happening at the 18,000 level.As my instructor put it, the high-level troughs are the chicken that hatches the surface level (scrambled) egg.

2)It provides the pictures of the clouds, but missed the key chance to break down the names into the original latin meanings, to create a matrix of high (Cirro), medium (alto), and low (strato), with substantive meaning including layer (stratus), curly (cirrus), stacked in a vertical heap (cumulo-cumulus), and delivering rain (nimbus).

Add this little matrix above, and read "Mariner's Guide to the 500-Millibar Chart" by Joe Stenkiewicz and Lee Chesneau, and Google for to find his web site, and you'll have all you need to move to the better three-dimensional interactive viewing of weather and weather charts.

I also recommend Understanding Weatherfax

A good little book
A very handy book for "instant" weather forcasting. Interesting to read and written with a bit of humor. The only shortcoming is the arrangment of the photographs of the different clouds, they are not in logical sequence.

for newbies to weather
OK book for newbies or beginners to this interesting hobby(uninteresting if in Michigan)

Small Gem of a Book...
This small hard to find book (unless you order it online) starts with a basic premise: to predict the weather you need to do 2 things-determine the direction of the wind and identify the clouds currently in the sky. That being said, I would consider this book a great primer for anyone interested in naked eye weather forecasting.

The book includes color cloud charts, discusses weather folklore, precipitation, warm and cold fronts, and volcanic eruptions.

This a general primer. The information is not spoon fed to the reader.

The strength of this approach is Rubin's writing is entertaining and lively, and will enourage you to not only make your own weather predictions, but to also seek more information outside the scope of the book.

The weakness is that some of the material is incomplete. The book was completed by Louis Rubin's children with the help of a meteorologist after Rubin passed away (based on the Introduction), using Rubin's cloud photo collections and his collected writings.

As a result, some of the material is incomplete. For example, Rubin describes the 4 types of clouds and the 10 specific clouds most associated with weather changes. You then have to search all over the book to find those 10 clouds, and even then, you're not sure (based on the prefixed names) if you're looking at the right photographs. I suspect at the time of his passing, Rubin's cloud photo collection was far from complete.

That being said, I still liked the book, consider it a keeper, and respect Rubin's work in this area as an amateur meteorologist. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether your winter blows with snow and rain or is just a sunbelt state of mind, a trove of delicious, soul-warming fare awaits in COLD WEATHER COOKING, from the author of The Nantucket Open-House Cookbook with over 214,000 copies in print.

Guided by a sense that winter is the season for seasonings-from ginger, garlic, and rosemary in Mixed Winter Squash Provencal to the cilantro and walnut crust on a dazzling Roast Rack of Lamb-this gifted cook and author provides dishes that are even gutsier than her summertime favorites. She pays special attention to the late harvest, helps cooks make the most of fall fruits and vegetables, offers chapters on winter grilling and cooking over the hearth.

More than 300 recipes range from bracing drinks for the first sign of autumn to glorious spring dishes for an Easter celebration. Warm Tomato Pie. Wild Rice, Mushroom, and Oyster Bisque. Pasta with Gorgonzola and Spinach. Plus Scallops in Sweet and Hot Lime Sauce, Deviled Beef Ribs, Broccoli with Toasted Hazelnuts and Pancetta, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Pumpkin Bread Pudding, Chestnut Mousse Cake, and Christmas Truffle Tart. Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club's HomeStyle Books. 112,000 copies in print.

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Customer Reviews (13)

my default cookbook
I am considered by friends and family to be a very good cook.Believe me, I have no particular talent and I don't work very hard at it.I simply have great recipes - and they are all from this book.We all collect cookbooks that catch our eye.But, it's the one or two that you always grab and are never disappointed by that actually have a tangible impact on your life.And, this cookbook is exactly that!

Good Eating
This cookbook is fantastic - wish I had time to create something out of it every day. It's divided up nicely - easy to follow. A lot of hearty fare - which is exactly what one wants to eat in colder temperatures!!! I will say that the mulled wine is a standout - there is something for everyone though - appetizers through desserts. You won't be disappointed!!

My favorite cookbook!
This is by far my favorite cookbook.We've loved almost every recipe, although she seems to be a better cook than baker (baked goods are good, but food is great!).Better than Open House cookbook b/c the portions are smaller (family-sized as opposed to banquet sized) and the recipe descriptions are less flowery.

Cold Weather Cooking
I have used this cookbook for 2 years and found every recipe to be delicious.It calls for lots of fresh ingredientsbut if you don't have them, often the recipes don't suffer.Many of the recipes are variations on old New England favorites.The title says it correctly!

My favorite cookbook
Of all the cookbooks I own (and that's a lot) this one is probably my favorite.Sarah Leah Chase's style is friendly and charming.Her love of food is apparent on every page.Her ability is apparent in the first recipe you prepare.The Chocolate Raspberry cake is wonderful........for years now it is my most requested recipe.I wish she would write another cookbook! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Simple presentation, thorough content, perfect for inquisitive kids
This is a simply written book that introduces young readers to some of the most common weather phenomena. The vocabulary and sentence structure were simple enough that my 5-year-old son could grasp what I was reading without my having to rephrase everything; yet the content was thorough enough that even I learned a few things from this book. Text is accompanied by excellent photographs and illustrations to help children grasp the concepts presented. An excellent choice for children who want to know more about weather. ... Read more

Product Description
Thirteen-year-old Rosie Beckett has never strayed further from her family's farm than a horse can pull a cart. Then a letter from her Aunt Euterpe arrives, and everything changes. It's 1893, the year of the World's Columbian Exposition-the "wonder of the age"-a.k.a. the Chicago World's Fair. Aunt Euterpe is inviting the Becketts to come for a visit and go to the fair! Award-winning author Richard Peck's fresh, realistic, and fun-filled writing truly brings the World's Fair-and Rosie and her family-to life.Amazon.com Review
Granddad emits a strangled sound, 13-year-old Rosie pitches right off her chair, and young Buster just vibrates. What event catapults the Beckett family into such a state? The arrival of a letter from distant Chicago--and not just a letter, an invitation from Mama's elusive, wealthy sister Aunt Euterpe. She decides that it's high time for the children to see the world beyond "the four walls of a one-room country schoolhouse." And what better opportunity than the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, to honor the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America? Spanish nobility, President Cleveland, and Ferris wheels, oh my! Richard Peck, Newbery Medal-winning author of A Year Down Yonder, paints a charming portrait of a 19th-century farming family turned upside down by a visit to the big city. Narrator Rosie is friendly and funny as she describes the instant (if not entirely successful) citification of her family, encounters with Buffalo Bill himself, and her own delightfully eccentric Granddad who named his horse after Lillian Russell (which is just fine until they meet her at the fair). This wonderful, witty glimpse into 19th-century America--sprinkled with historical photographs--concludes with an insightful essay on the Exposition. Heartily recommended. (Ages 10 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Reading Background
The story is a wonderful example of historical fiction and it captures readers with its descriptions.The setting is the period of the Industrial Revolution and the narrator is a young farm girl.We are introduced to her beautiful older sister, pesky younger brother and her cantakerous grandpa.These farm people are visiting the Chicago for the first time.They travel to see the Columbian Exposition, a fair that set new precedents for amusement parks.Through humor the narrator share her perceptions of family ties and the discovery of a new world.This story is perfect for students fourth grade and up.I would consider pairing this with the Wizard of Oz because it was Frank Baum's experiences at the Columbian Exposition that inspired his much beloved work.

Fair Weather is more than fair
My students and I loved this book.It has some interesting twists.I loaned it to my mom and she won't give it back.

wonderful book for all ages..
This is supposed to be a kids book, but the whole family liked it so well that I bought a couple more copies to give away. It is about a rural family going to the Chicago World's fair in 1893. The descriptions of the fair, and the characters in this book are delightful. Highly recommend.

Interesting, yet Boring
Open this book and you' ll read a story of a young girl with her family, going to new places, and changing her widow aunt's life forever. From Richard Peck, the creator of the New berry Medal-winning novel, A Year Down Yonder, comes the just as popular, Fair Weather. Using the famous Chicago World's Fair with legends like Buffalo Bill and the beautiful Lillian Russell and a mix of a fictional family, Richard Peck made an exciting historical fiction novel. He truly wrote a story that shows the advance of technology during the 19th century. Many inventions from the typewriter to the zoopraxiscope and even to the Ferris Wheel are included in this book. He integrated many inventions. Also, he showed the emphasis on the use of technology, mainly electricity. If you want to read a fascinating book about technology, inventions, or even on the many fashions from the 19th century, you should pick up this novel. Fair Weather is a very appealing book, but it was boring in the beginning. Then again, most books are boring in the beginning anyway. Fortunately the book has an ironic, but still happy, ending that makes up for the beginning. Also, Fair Weather has exciting details throughout the book that will keep you interested. Fair Weather was the best book that I have read in a long time.

Interesting, yet Boring
Open this book and you'll read a story of a young girl with her family, going to new places, and changing her widow aunt's life forever. From Richard Peck, the creator of the Newberry Medal-winning novel, A Year Down Yonder, comes the just as popular, Fair Weather. Using the famous Chicago World's Fair with legends like Buffalo Bill and the beautiful Lillian Russell and a mix of a fictional family, Richard Peck made an exciting historical fiction novel. He truly wrote a story that shows the advance of technology during the 19th century. Many inventions from the typewriter to the zoopraxiscope and even the Ferris Wheel are included in this book. He integrated many inventions. Also, he showed the emphasis on the use of technology, mainly electricity. If you want to read a fascinating book about technology, inventions, or even on the many fashions from the 19th century, you should pick up this novel. Fair Weather is a very appealing book, but it was boring in the beginning. Then again, most books are boring in the beginning anyway. Fortunately the book has an ironic, but still happy, ending that makes up for the beginning. Also, Fair Weather has exciting details throughout the book that will keep you interested. For me, Fair Weather was the best book that I have read in a long time.

- James Nguyen

Sorry if I posted this twice, I can't find my first time.
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Product Description

The seamanship classic you should have on-board when sailing in rough weather

Adlard Coles' Heavy Weather Sailing provides you with expert advice for when you venture out of sight of land, whether for racing or cruising. It gives a clear message of seamanlike design features, preparations, and tactics that you should consider against the time when it comes on to blow. It includes new how-to chapters on storm sails, taking shelter, and managing multihulls in storms, plus thrilling new accounts of actual storm encounters.

Customer Reviews (3)

Just buy it?
Stoked I bought this one - a "must have" - great balance of theory and practical experience applied to variety of hull types, methods and situations.

I stayed home
This is a great book. I read it and was so scared I stayed home.

So far so good
I am still in the process of reading but so far I like it.The first chapter is a bit overwhelming with statistics on boat stability but it is still very interesting.The book has great glossy photos and the material is organized and presented in an easy to follow format.Perfect for an intermediate sailor.I am very much looking forward to further reading. ... Read more

Product Description

Will I need my umbrella?

Is it a good day for the beach?

Will school close because of snow?

These are the questions weather forecasters answer every day. They can tell us what the weather is doing at any time of the day or night. But how do they do it?

Weather Forecasting tells how. With straightforward text and colorful pictures, this behind-the-scenes look at a modern weather station answers basic questions kids ask most, and makes weather forecasting more fun and accessible than ever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not an Verty Good Book
I tried to use this book to teach fourth graders about weather.I was left more confused than when I started teaching the unit.

Weather Book
I loved this book. I am an early education teacher.This was a great book.Gayle Gibbons is a wonderful author.I use her books all the time to teach science. ... Read more

Product Description
Winifred Weathervane is responsible for cooking up the world's weather.When she goes on vacation, she leaves the stove on, and it blows a hole in the ozone layer, changing the world's weather patterns.Fortunately, she's able to plug the hole with her umbrella, restoring the weather that the world's plants, animals -- and people -- are used to. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book!
This book is so good.My children are no longer scared of the weather!We say it's Wild Weather Soup Day and they calm right down!
Thanks so much. ... Read more

Product Description
This completely redesigned new edition is a colorful photographic guide to predicting the weather in the hours ahead. The photographs are arranged in such a way as to illustrate the sky under a variety of weather situations, and a simple scientific introduction explains how to use the photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

"The man at the wheel was taught to feel contempt for the wildest blow..."
INSTANT WEATHER FORECASTING by Alan Watts (NOT the philosopher Alan Wilson Watts, by the way) is a handy and important quick reference guide that's simple to use. Simply match the sky you see with one of the photos in this book and you have a dead reckoning weather prediction for the next six to twelve hours.

It may not be a weatherfax, but for those of us who sail and depend on our informed instincts INSTANT WEATHER FORECASTING can be a lifesaver---especially in having a sense for local conditions.

can you forcast with this book?
This is a short, pamphlet book with 20-30 full page pictures of clouds, accompanied by technical information that would supposedly allow you to look at the sky and predict the weather.I don't think so.The weather wizards book discussed the progression of cloud formations and is a much better book for this purpose.I found this book to be at one too technical and too simple.Had the author placed the photographs in the order one typically observes the change from high to low to high, or warm cold warm, and discussed what is happening within these systems and how the clouds reflect that, this could have been much better.

A very brief outline... that is really useful at sea!
This book rates 5 stars IF you use it for its intended pupose only.

Very fast. No mounds of text to crawl through.Find the photo and sky that most closely matches what you are seeing, factor in a couple of additional points, and your predictions for the next several hours, or a bit more than that, are likely to be as reliable as any other source you may have.
This little book should be an essential resource at sea.

Downside?More than half a day or so, and accuracy of your prediction will decrease. While this is always true in looking at weather forecasting tools, be certain to keep this in mind when using this very nice quick resource.

Highly recommended.

should be on every sailor's shelf
great pocket guide to forecasting the weather in the near-term future. (ie, 2-4 hours in advance) this would be an excellent companion for any outdoor enthusiast. ... Read more

Product Description
This official handbook provides an authoritative tool for pilots, flight instructors, and those studying for pilot certification. From both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Weather Service, this newest edition offers up-to-date information on the interpretation and application of advisories, coded weather reports, forecasts, observed and prognostic weather charts, and radar and satellite imagery. Expanded to 400 pages, this edition features over 200 color and black-and-white photographs, satellite images, diagrams, charts, and other illustrations. With extensive appendixes, forecast charts, aviation website recommendations, and supplementary product information, this book is an exhaustive resource no aviator or aeronautical buff should be without.

Chapters included in the Aviation Weather Services Handbook are: The Aviation Weather Service Program, Aviation Weather Product Classification and Policy, Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR), Pilot and Radar Reports, Satellite Pictures, Radiosonde Additional Data (RADATs),Graphical Observations and Derived Products,Products for Aviation Hazards, and Aviation Weather Forecasts. Readers will also find useful Surface Analysis Charts, Weather Depiction Charts, Radar Summary Charts, and Constant Pressure Analysis Charts. This handbook comprises absolutely everything weather-related that a pilot needs to know. Educational, comprehensive, and potentially lifesaving, this is an indispensable manual for anyone involved in handling a plane. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Out of Date
This book is now out of date - replaced by AC00-45G in February 2010.
The new book is available here on Amazon.

Ok
It is what it is and that is not a lot more than the standard FAA text on the subject.If you want a complete one for the bookshelf, here it is.Is it the kind of thing you refer to daily, no.But as a reference to look through every 6 - 12 months and your a pilot, can't do anything but help.

Outdated Version
The Aviation Weather Services Handbook is a commercial reprint of the AC 00-45E published by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Weather Service.It is outdated now.The new and updated AC 00-45F was published by the FAA & NWS is dated October 1, 2007 and is available for download on the FAA and NWS web sites.I'm sure a commercial version of the new edition will be available soon.

Same as 1999 edition
Except for a new cover and font, this is word-for-word identical to the 1999 edition.There's no need to upgrade.Eight years and not one thing in weather services has changed?At least the publisher could have updated the maps!Like most FAA products, it is extremely dry reading, but if you want the facts with a minimum of fluff, it's a good resource. ... Read more

Product Description
Using everyday occurrences to illustrate meteorology and climatology, this first-rate reference works together with inspired technology tutorials to engage readers in learning about atmospheric behavior. Dynamic illustrations from the book come to life in the fully integrated  website, where a narrator guides users through animated tutorials, video footage and satellite loops of atmospheric phenomena. Climate change science is updated and folded into atmospheric science coverage throughout the new edition to provide a report of scientific consensus and currency. This includes the findings presented in the fourth assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as well as how the members of the panel reached their conclusions.
Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere; Solar Radiation and the Seasons; Energy Balance and Temperature; Atmospheric Pressure and Wind; Atmospheric Moisture; Cloud Development and Forms; Precipitation Processes.
Atmospheric Circulation and Pressure Distributions; Air Masses and Fronts; Mid-Latitude Cyclones; Lightning, Thunder, and Tornadoes; Tropical Storms and Hurricanes; Weather Forecasting and Analysis; Human Effects: Air Pollution and Heat Islands; Earth's Climates; Climate Changes: Past and Future; Atmospheric Optics.
A useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about Earth’s climate and weather.

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Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Easy to understand and fascinating
"Eric Sloane's Weather Book" was a very fun, easy-to-understand, and fascinating book about weather. He explained ways that a person can predict the weather by looking at the sky, how to read weather maps--what all the symbols mean--and use weather instruments. He covered information about our atmosphere, air, winds, heat, and clouds, and how it all works together to create weather.

The author has a gift for making difficult ideas very easy to understand. He also included many black and white illustrations that reinforced what was taught in the text and made it clear. The book was packed full of practical information on how to become weather-wise. This book was first written some time ago (in 1949) and was based off of articles that the author wrote for sailors and aviators. Most of the information is still completely relevant, but it does show it's age in a few places.

I'd highly-recommend this well-written and interesting book to anyone who's curious about how weather is created and how to predict it.

An Interesting Book
Very educational as well as a great reminder of my "Mamaw" [great grandmother] who was an excellent weather prognosticator who new almost all of the weather signs.

quite superb
For a sailor interested in weather, there are these days a myriad of marine weather books written with ever increasing sophistication and complication.I've read, even studied, many of them; and most have value.But this is the one that I reread before every season (and this will be my fifty-seventh sailing season). There is a simplicity and clarity to Sloan's explanations which, coupled with his wonderful illustrations, make this book superb and unique.I suppose that technophiles might quibble with the fact that this book does not include a few ideas or concepts that we now know, but which were unknown in 1949 when the book was first published.But that doesn't qualify what I've said about its excellence.Even if your interest involves weather fax, GRIBS, and 500mb charts, there is literally no better book to explain the basics of how weather happens.And, if, like me, you no longer cruise, but just day sail or make the occasional overnighter, this book coupled with last night's TV forecast, a decent barometer, and Alan Watts' INSTANT WEATHER FORECASTING, is pretty much all you need.ERIC SLOAN'S WEATHER BOOK is really in a class by itself.

Weather for Dummies
I didn't realize we had inherited a copy of this book from my father-in-law until I found it rather late in the semester I took Meteorology.I read it cover-to-cover while studying for the final and managed a 'B' which for me on a science topic was AWESOME.Eric Sloane's simplistic explanations and drawings helped this non-science major grasp some of the tougher concepts.

The only time I really NOTICED how old it is was when he mentioned how the earth would appear if one were to take a trip into space in a suit made of air -- we hadn't landed on the moon when this was written.No mention of ozone or the top two levels of the atmosphere either but, hey, who knew they were there in 1949? ... Read more

Product Description
Fairyland is home to the seven Weather Fairies!They use magical feathers to bring all of the weather to Fairyland.But when the feathers disappear, the weather turns wacky.The Weather Fairies must fix it -- fast! In this book, Crystal the Snow Fairy has lost her magic feather.Now it's snowing in summer!Find one feather in each book and fix the weather in Fairyland! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good series for younger readers...and very, very, very girly
This is the second series of "Rainbow Magic" fairy books written by Daisy Meadows, picking up where the seven-part Rainbow Fairies series left off.These books are innocent and engaging, focusing on two young girls, Kirsty and Rachel, who meet while on vacation with their parents, and are drawn into the magical world of the fairies, who are in conflict with the mischievous Jack Frost. The structure of this series is nearly identical to the first: the girls are given a quest in which they must help seven fairies (each with sparkles aplenty and cute, super-girly outfits and princess-y names such as Hayley, Heather, Iris, Amber and Iris... ) who have been bothered by Jack and his goblin helpers. In each book they complete one part of the quest and meet one new fairy.

It is important to know going in that these books are interconnected -- each individual volume ties in with the others, so you will want to start with book #1, then go on to #2, etc. The plots are not very complicated, but they do make reference to each other, and the idea is to read them all together.

The other thing to know is that these books are not very scary or troubling - there is action, but not much real danger (the goblins are easily beaten, and not very frightening) so if you are looking for longer narratives for young kids to read, but don't want anything disturbing, this series is good option. One criticism is that the books are pretty WASP-y, and while a couple of the fairies might be seen as Asian, basically the entire series takes place in an all-white, middle-class world, populated with thin, blonde girls and a few brunettes. Other than that, though, this is a good series for families looking for light, engaging, age-appropriate stories. Not much depth, but they are very readable and engaging. (ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

Crystal the Snow fairy
My Daughter Loves this book & looks forward to read the rest of the series. Its very easy to read.

Crystal The Snow Fairy
My daughter liked Crystal so much she wanted to get the rest of the weather fairies.We have since bought the Rainbow Fairies and Jewel Fairies.She loves reading them!They are captivating and have super illustrations.She also enjoyed Holly The Christmas Fairy as a Christmas surprise!

We love it!!
My seven-year old daughter Clare has read 12 books by Daisy Meadows and we've ordered several more.She especially liked Crystal the Snow Fairy.It has great pictures.Some of her other favorites include:Pearl the Cloud Fairy and Heather the Violet Fairy.What a great series!

Doodle's magicfeathers lost!
I love this book! I would recommend this book for ages 5 and up. In this book Jack Frost's evil goblins stole Doodle's, the rooster who gives the weather faries their weather feathers so they can control the weather in FairyLand, tail feathers which are the weather feathers! Kirsty and Rachel are best friends, who are friends with the fairies so they can help! Their first mission is in this book when they have to find Crystal the snow fairies weather feather. Read this book to find out more! ... Read more