Windsongs: Poems About Weather
by Douglas Florian; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Beach Lane/Simon    48 pp.
5/24     9781665937726    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781665937733    $10.99

Kids are often hyper-aware of such natural phenomena as thunder, lightning, and snow, so a collection of twenty engaging, informative poems about weather is likely to be a hit. Here topics include the familiar (e.g., sun, hurricanes, hail, and wind) as well as less commonly featured subjects, including atmosphere, weather instruments, and the work of a meteorologist. Using a variety of poetic forms, Florian (Zoobilations!, rev. 3/22, and many others) provides nuggets of facts embedded in playful rhymes, often with surprise endings or a humorous slant. The poems are notable for their strong rhythms, pleasing ­repetition, and clever wordplay. From “Fog,” for example: “It drifted down, / close to the ground, / then napped beside a hill. / And gave the day / ten shades of gray, / each ­un-fog-ettable.” Rendered in “gouache paint, colored pencils, and rubber stamps on primed paper bags,” every fanciful full-bleed illustration is paired with a poem on the facing page, giving each double-page spread an open and inviting feel. A helpful glossary provides more information about the topics, and a list of weather websites for kids and suggested further reading ­complete the excellent back matter.

From the July/August 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.