Weather Science and Mythology From Around the World
Author Joan Marie Galat Illustrated by Georgia GrahamISBN 9781770502451Binding Trade PaperPublisher Whitecap Books Ltd.Publication Date October 10, 2018Size 203 x 229 mm
Is it going to rain tomorrow? That question seems easy enough to answer — just check the weather report! But how about if there was no weather report, what then? And what about our ancestors, w
Is it going to rain tomorrow? That question seems easy enough to answer — just check the weather report! But how about if there was no weather report, what then? And what about our ancestors, who weren't able to measure weather patterns the way we do today — how did they understand the forces of rain, sun, snow and wind?
In the latest addition to the Dot to Dot in the Sky series, author Joan Marie Galat takes a two-pronged look at the customs surrounding weather, providing a children's introduction to the basic concepts of meteorology.
Read about Russia's
Father Frost, whose icy touch was a danger to those he deemed unworthy.
Discover the tale of Maui, the Hawaiian god who brought powerful winds to his island just to fly his tree-sized kite.
And hear the tale of Lei-Gong, the Chinese Thunder god who, when displeased, could make the clouds roll and rumble with each strike of his drum.
With gorgeous pastel illustrations by Georgia Graham, Stories in the Clouds features detailed sidebars and curious facts and trivia that explain the weather's strange and erratic behavior. Alongside colorful stories from all around the world, Joan demonstrates what a mysterious and wonderful phenomenon the weather can really be.
Joan Marie Galat lives in the Alberta countryside near Edmonton, where she can often be found gazing upwards. She shares her love of the sky in the Dot to Dot in the Sky series, which offers both science and stories from ancient cultures about our environment and the night sky.
Joan's writing career began with a weekly newspaper column when she was 12 years old. Now an award-winning and best-selling author, she has written more than a dozen books for both children and adults. She provides freelance writing and editing through her communications business, MoonDot Media, and is a frequent presenter at schools and libraries.
While Alberta's long winter nights and big prairie sky are ideal for stargazing, Joan also enjoys other pastimes such as reading, camping, kayaking, spending time outdoors, and even stiltwalking. She likes to travel and picnic, which led to her book Day Trips from Edmonton.
Visit Joan's websites at www.joangalat.com and www.moondotmedia. com for details on her books, presentations, and writing workshops.
Georgia Graham has been a compulsive drawer ever since she was a child growing up in Calgary, Alberta. She graduated from the Alberta College of Art in 1982 where she majored in Visual Communications. She has written and illustrated Cub's Journey Home, Where Wild Horses Run, The Lime Green Secret, A Team Like No Other, and The Strongest Man This Side of Cremona, as well as illustrating many children's books by other authors. Her books often reflect Alberta's landscape, communities, farms, and ranches. She illustrates in chalk pastel on sanded paper and paints with acrylic on canvas. Her books and art can be viewed at www.georgiagraham.com.
Georgia lives with her husband on a small farm on the edge of Lacombe, Alberta. Her grown children and granddaughter live nearby.
"Stories in the Clouds: Weather Science and Mythology from Around the World is a good resource for students doing research on weather-related issues. . . Galat is skilled at simplifying very complex scientific concepts for younger readers. The illustrations by Georgia Graham are well-executed and complement the text. Galat combines mythology and science in this thought-provoking text. Recommended" — CM Magazine
"A collection of traditional lore, stories and myths, about weather, seasons, variety, prediction practices, and more. . . Weaving a tapestry of weather knowledge, traditional and modern, into a rich heritage for today's students." — The Midwest Book Review
"The pairing of storytelling and science is brilliant and very interesting." — KissTheBook tweet
"This resource is a perfect fit for late-elementary/middle school science, and it also relates to social studies and language art subjects...it has an accessible reading level for students in Grades 4?8." — Green Teacher Magazine
"Joan has wonderfully woven science and lore together to produce an entertaining and enlightening book. It's a great read that will have you seeing weather in a whole new way." — Josh Classen, chief meteorologist, CTV Edmonton
"Joan has created yet another perfect blend of science and stories. A beautiful mix of weather elements, that are scientifically accurate, together with anecdotal mythology that adds such a human perspective to our world. I have always loved reading her books, and this one does not disappoint." — Claire Martin, meteorologist
On the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Best Books for Kids & Teens for Spring 2019 List
A 2019 Skipping Stones Book Awards book
"This engaging book for children is a composite of science and stories. Factual sections about weather, including climate, sun, wind, clouds, thunder and lightning, seasons, frost, and fog are interspersed with related tales that early humans once used to help them understand weather in its many manifestations." — Skipping Stones Book Awards Jury
