Partly Cloudy

January 8, 2024
Via two insightful rabbits and a backdrop of freely washed blue sky, Freedman (Tiny Dino) fashions a story of dual perception that both catalogs cloud types and contrasts two ways of seeing the world. One variation, as embodied by a bunny whose head is often turned skyward, involves imaginative perception: “Ooh, that cloud looks like cotton candy.” The other, as conveyed by a spectacle-wearing bunny sometimes toting a book, involves acquiring and disseminating information: “That is not cotton candy. I see a CUMULUS cloud.” Undeterred by fact, the imaginative bunny continues observing: “Look at this cloud! I see a cozy blanket.” The second bunny notes, about the stratus cloud: “A cold and wet blanket, perhaps.” As this back and forth continues, small inset boxes define each cloud type, explaining the Latinate terms, each of which Freedman’s watercolor paintings depict clearly and recognizably. When the sky’s color begins to change, and the rabbits are caught in a thunderstorm despite the bespectacled bunny’s warning, the atmospheric event drives a momentary reversal between the two. Creative imagination and scientific intelligence need not be exclusive, suggests this gently educational book that resists simple caricature. An author’s note and more about clouds concludes. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from January 1, 2024
The scoop on clouds, led by two long-eared skywatchers trading observations and outlooks. "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair!" cries one plushy little white rabbit, gesturing theatrically at the sky. Responds a second bunny, with eyeglasses: "Those are CIRRUS clouds, and they are basically a lot of microscopic ice crystals." That's just one of several similar exchanges beneath gathering cumulus clouds of various sorts, but when storm clouds deliver a mighty BOOM! of thunder, the roles reverse, and it's the one without glasses delivering the cerebral disquisition on cumulonimbus while the other squeaks about a "humongous monster!" They are, of course, both right...as readers able to let their imaginations roam and also absorb Freedman's unusually expansive gallery of cloud types will be well equipped to understand. Along with the pleasures of viewing diaphanous watercolor portraits of the 10 main types of clouds and less common sorts ranging from virga and lenticularis to mammatus and wavelike Kelvin-Helmholtz, Freedman offers additional facts in inset boxes, plus lucid schematic views of how clouds form and of the whole water cycle to boot. "There is so much to learn about clouds!" marvels one bunny. And indeed, so much to learn about the world and how we perceive it. Cirrus-ly great. (selected resources, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from February 23, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-Finding shapes in the clouds is fun for all, but it can be even more fun if there is a scientist that can help identify different types of clouds and give more information about them. Freedman does just that, with two adorable bunnies as the guides. One bunny is fanciful, finding clouds that look like whipped cream or Rapunzel's hair, the other (sigh, with spectacles) is the scientist, identifying the scientific name and properties of clouds, like cirrus clouds, which are made of ice crystals. The text in speech bubbles is as joyful and freestyle as the conversation of unobserved children, while set-off boxes of type provide more formal definitions. This makes the book ideal for story hours, allowing for a flexible give-and-take between reader and audience. The science is substantial enough to allow for independent research, at least as a launch point. Freedman's lovely diaphanous watercolor-like scenes are an ideal counterpoint to the text, showing what the clouds look like. The scientific vocabulary will fascinate young readers. At the end of the book, there are beautifully illustrated diagrams that show the sky positions of different types of clouds as well as more specific information. VERDICT The story is grounded in science and will send children outside to look up, inspired by what they have read. A must have for primary library collections.-Debbie Tanner

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 8, 2024
Grades K-3 Is it cotton candy or a cumulus cloud? Rapunzel's long hair or a cirrus cloud? As two rabbits express different perspectives on cloud-watching, one tends toward imaginative or fanciful interpretations while the other is ready to supply hard science. Putting the scientific facts within the narrative makes it easy to see how cloud names directly relate to their sizes and shapes. In addition to the dialogue, additional facts appear as inset boxes. Several familiar fairy tales and nursery rhymes are referenced, adding another element of identification fun. The watercolor illustrations are well suited to conveying the varying nature of different clouds. Although one rabbit starts out representing knowledge and the other, fantasy, eventually they both demonstrate that they can appreciate imagination as well as factual information. An expanded section at the end of the book provides further information, describing how clouds form, illustrating the 10 main types of clouds, and including a diagram of the water cycle. Clever and well-executed, this tale is perfect for weather studies or story times.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.