Australia's wild weird wonderful weather by Stephanie Owen Reeder
Illus. by Tania McCartney. National Library of Australia, 2020.
ISBN: 9780642279637.
(Age: 8+). Highly recommended. This is a beautifully presented and
informative non-fiction book which highlights Australia's vastly
different weather patterns across our huge country. The contents
page focuses on seven main areas:
1. Seasonal weather
2. Precipitation
3. Sound, Light, Movement
4. Disastrous Weather
5. Weather Forecasting
6. Climate Change
7. Researching Weather
Within each of these chapters are three main topics presented on a
double page spread. The text is of a very readable size and relates
to the visual images; charts, maps, illustrations and diagrams
located close by. After the introduction of What is Weather?, the
book moves on to Bush Forecasting which concentrates on how well
Indigenous Peoples have managed and adapted to living on the land
for thousands of years. Cloud formations, lightning, rain, heat,
wind, weather disasters and extreme weather are some of the topics
covered. The chapter on weather forecasting begins with animal
antics. The behaviour of some animals is said to predict the weather
e.g. sheep huddle together for protection when a storm is coming,
making a big woolly blanket. Some farmers say, 'When sheep gather
together in a huddle, tomorrow we'll have a puddle.' There are
chapters on reading and measuring the weather plus a section
dedicated to climate change. Exploring the Weather is the final
section of the book and it gives an historical perspective with
interesting facts as well as photographs from the National Library
of Australia''s own collection which incidentally provided the
information throughout the book. At the end of the book is a
detailed glossary of weather words, a list of weather resources plus
a comprehensive index. This book will be a valuable addition to any
school, public library or home.
There is further information about the book on the NLA
blog, as well as an entertaining book
trailer and Scholastic's Teaching
notes. Themes: Australia, Weather, Indigenous knowledge,
Climate change.
Kathryn Beilby