A Party for Clouds: Thunderstorms

Bel the Weather Girl

by Belinda Jensen, Renee Kurilla (Illustrator)

Boom! A crash of thunder follows a flash of lightning. Bel the Weather Girl and Dylan are having a slumber party, but now he's hiding under the covers! Bel tells Dylan that thunderstorms aren't so scary once you understand them. Will Dylan's fear of the storm rain on their sleepover? Stay tuned, because every day is another weather day!

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Childrens

24 pages, Library Binding

First published March 1, 2016

Reviews

[Zachary Hart]

The book was so funny to see that one of the people was scared of lightning and the other person just started helping him out, which was super funny. I loved that they brought a chimpanzee called Thunder Chimpanzee to help count when they see strikes. They started counting to see how many miles away the storm was away from them.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Beth]

Now that April has finally arrived, I thought it was time to start gathering some weather related ideas. I knew what I wanted to do for science and art, but I was on the lookout for some new books. My pre-k 4 class is into Writer's Workshop this year and we often use stories to jump start our topic selection. I had some books that I've used in the past and I was ready to begin my research when this book popped up on my Net Galley feed. Needless to say, I thought it would be perfect and I was thrilled when I was approved for the download.

This book has everything my class loves. It's a chapter book, so I can start it before lunch and finish it later. It contains a glossary which is a huge plus when we make vocabulary lists. The illustrations are fun and will definitely help the children relate to the fear they can feel when a thunderstorm approaches. Each page also contains a very clear and child-friendly explanation of what actually occurs during a storm. As a bonus, the book also includes a very quick and fun experiment that helps explain the sound that thunder makes.

[Kizzi Roberts]

Cousins, Bel and Dylan are having the perfect slumber party, until a storms strikes! Storms are scary...or so Dylan thinks. Bel loves storms! As the weather girl, she knows all about storms. Can teaching Dylan about storms help him overcome his fear?

"A Party for Clouds" written by Belinda Jensen and illustrated by Renee Kurilla provides fascinating facts about thunderstorms. Storms can be scary for children, but Bel takes some of that fear away with science. Charming illustrations accompany the facts, creating an engaging format for children of all ages. Children will be ready to grab their own Thunder Chimp and count the time between lightning and thunder. Fact and fiction blend perfectly creating a tale of friendship, overcoming fears, science and learning. Children and adults are sure to learn something new!

I received a complimentary e-book from Lerner Publishing Group and Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

[Carla]

Bel's cousin Dylan is spending the night at her house. Just before going to sleep for the night, a thunderstorm occurs and Dylan is frightened. Bel, called "Bel the Weathergirl" explains all about thunderstorms, why they happen, how to tell if they are near or moving away and about safety. Using her chimpanzee, their tent, flashlights etc. this story explains in a way that younger children will understand. At the back of the book is a glossary, further reading suggestions as well as websites that can be used to further explore thunderstorms. A great book for science classes as well as in a home, especially where children may be afraid of thunderstorms.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[K.L. Beckmeyer]

A perfect early introduction to science-- it has the facts but it also has relatable characters in a story format.