Rural Reading Roundup

DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick remembers being both captivated and frightened by thunderstorms when he was a child.

"Thunder scared the crap out of me. But I also still thought it was really cool," said Baranick. "My mom did too, and we would sometimes lay out on our driveway to watch as the thunderstorms would come in."

Little ears hear the weather report whether we realize it or not. Farm kids grow up listening to pleas for rain and/or the complaints of too much.

But how often do we explain the amazing whys of weather? In this article, we review some picture books that boil down explanations of weather events. Who knows, these books may plant the seed for a career.

Bryce Anderson, ag meteorologist emeritus, found his way to DTN's ag meteorology desk after growing up on a south-central Nebraska farm. "When I was a boy, I was interested in weather like all farm kids. Clouds, winds, rain and rainbows were on full display in the countryside. I also learned to respect what weather could do to either help or harm our crops and livestock," he recalled.

Decades may have passed, but Anderson still remembers the year the corn got hailed out. There are memories of heading to the cellar during tornado threats. There was no Doppler radar network technology to give advance warning in those days.

"Those memories and lessons have influenced my perspective on weather and climate work ever since," Anderson said.

For Baranick, the thought of weather as a profession came in ninth grade after a two-week unit on weather in Earth Science class. "I fell in love with the idea of being able to predict what would happen with the weather, not just live in it. I bought a 'Weather for Dummies' book and researched how you could become a meteorologist, and I never looked back," said Baranick.

CHECK THESE BOOKS OUT

Author and graphic artist Gail Gibbons has a knack for making the inner workings of complex topics understandable to children and adults. The words may be simple, but the facts are thoroughly researched and checked for accuracy with subject matter scientists. Colorful paintings and well-labeled diagrams encourage young readers to explore nature. There are many weather themes included in her long list of published titles.

Here are four favorites:

Weather Words and What They Mean, by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House Publishing, Inc., Ages 4-8, $8.99 paperback). Think of this as a first weather pictorial dictionary. The text outlines basic weather terms such as temperature, rain, hot, cold, thunder, lighting, hail and gives a brief explanation of the why behind them.

The Reasons for Seasons, by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House Publishing, Inc., Ages 4-8, $8.99 paperback). Here Gibbons explains the seasons, the solstices and the equinoxes. Farmers aren't alone in living and working by a seasonal clock. The book explains how and why temperatures and day lengths change throughout the year and the many activities (planting and harvesting included) influenced by those variances.

It's Raining!, by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House Publishing, Inc, Ages 4-8, $7.99 paperback). It's raining. It's pouring ... This introduction to rain covers the waterfront -- from droughts to monsoons. Did you know the order in the colors of a rainbow are always the same?

Weather Forecasting, by Gail Gibbons (Aladdin Paperbacks/Simon & Schuster, Ages 5-8, $8.99 paperback). There's a lot of science behind weather forecasting. This book borders on technical, but brings the importance of meteorologists and weather forecasters into focus and explores the tools they use to get the job done. It offers a good opportunity to discuss what shapes forecasts, and the importance alerts play in our daily lives.

MORE WORDS ON WEATHER

Feel the Wind, by Arthur Dorros (HarperTrophy, Ages 5-9, $8.99 paperback). Wind is what happens when hot air and cold air change places. It's that simple and that complicated. This sweet book talks about all the ways winds shift and work around us. It gently discusses the challenges of too much wind. The book provides readers with two simple experiments to better understand wind, which includes a lesson on making a simple weather vane.

Clouds, by Anne Rockwell/Illustrated by Frane' Lessac (HarperCollins, Ages 4-8, $6.99 paperback). Searching the clouds for recognizable shapes is a rite of childhood. But those shapes can also tell us a lot about the weather. Cumulus, Stratus, Cirrus and many more types of clouds are outlined in this book. Children are exposed to why clouds are important to everything that lives and grows. Adult and child can polish off the lesson by creating a cloud using steps provided.

Weather, by Seymour Simon (HarperCollins, Ages 5-9, $7.99 paperback). A prolific science writer, Simon explores weather through photo-essay format and covers the many ways weather changes each day and why. The glossary at the end of the book is helpful and children looking for a way to supplement school projects will find this a good primer.

When the Sky Roars, by Katie Weaver (A Little Offbeat Publishing, Ages 3-8, $18.95 hardcover). Seriously, a lighthearted look about weather is sometimes just what the child and reader needs. This totally fictional story of a boy named Liam who meets his fear of thunderstorms head on by fastening balloons to his rear. What he finds waiting are some surprising and sweet discoveries. Told in verse, there's even a pie recipe at the end of the book.

Find these books at the local library, through local booksellers and Amazon.

Pamela Smith can be reached at pamela.smith@dtn.com

Follow her on social media platform X @PamSmithDTN

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