From Publishers Weekly
In this companion volume to their Nine O'Clock Lullaby, Singer and Lessac embark on a meteorological trip around the globe, pointing out the drastically different weather conditions that can occur in various places, all on the same day. From the Arctic to the Texas Panhandle, Northern Kenya and all the way down to Antarctica, readers trek across both hemispheres, checking out snow, ice, fog, clouds, sun and heat. Singer's poetic language makes the voyage a particularly intriguing one, describing African rains that "leave the gift of a river," Patagonian clouds, "white puffs" that "vanish wet and cold/ in [a boy's] fat warm hands" and, in Barbados, sunlight that "dazzles on the sand." Lessac's folk-art paintings are like stylized picture-postcards, featuring jaunty groupings of brightly clad people and distinctive backgrounds, ranging from bustling cityscapes to wide-open countryside. No matter the time of year, youngsters will be eager to take this informative tour. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-As in Nine O'Clock Lullaby (HarperCollins, 1993), Singer and Lessac circumnavigate the globe exploring similarities and differences. Here, the intrepid travelers tackle the weather. With carefully crafted, childlike illustrations and a succinct, engaging text, the weather in 17 locales that include Paris, New York City, the Nile Valley, Darjeeling, Northern Kenya, and Patagonia is touched upon. The closing refrain on each double-page spread, "On the same day in March-," is sure to encourage listeners to join in. Inhabitants are depicted engaged in activities and attire appropriate to that area in March, though the Arctic, Antarctic, and the Texas Panhandle (during a tornado) are illustrated sans humans. An author's note offers a brief explanation of the Earth's orbit and the seasons, and a map of the world indicates the places visited in the book. Classes engaged in units on weather or world geography will find this book most interesting. Others will enjoy the repetition, the detailed illustrations, and the tiny taste of faraway places. A useful and engaging addition.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
