Clouds

The book offers questions as part of the text that I believe strike curiosity. In the beginning of the book, it opens with "can you make a cloud?" It goes into how are clouds made and even further in detail to their appearance.

Author: Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: John Wallace
Year Published: 2004
ISBN: 0689854412

Summary

"Clouds come in many different shapes and sizes" (summary from back of book). Explore where clouds come from! Identify the different kinds of clouds!

Evaluation

Appropriateness: High
Authority: High
Accuracy: High
Liteary Artistry: High
Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

I feel that the book opens opportunities to give students agency through the questions they provide in the text. It has a way to engage students with the text, and even help bring out their curiosity. When I read through the book, I learned so much more about clouds that I either forgot about or didn't know until now.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

In the text, there are questions that are incorporated in the text that I think challenges kids to think and wonder based on their prior knowledge they may have on clouds. The examples they give on what makes a cloud are all practical and realistic, something I'm positive the kids have seen. Therefore, I think the book helps promote opportunities for the kids to draw from their prior knowledge in order to build on their schema of what they may already know about clouds.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

I think the book provides a simple introduction to clouds. It discusses about what makes a cloud and the three different kinds of clouds. However, I think an expository text would be a better fit when actually showing appropriate illustrations of clouds to kids. Like I mentioned, I think the examples they gave on what makes a cloud is relatable in that I think the kids would have experienced or saw them in their day to day lives.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

I believe the content is based on sound scientific principles and is accurate. The book just discusses about where clouds come from and what they look like. Like I said previously, the text is simple therefore it's merely stating the basic facts on clouds.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

I think the book incorporate the two together very nicely. The simple text is mainly informational stating facts about clouds. While the illustrations provide a further description of the text, using fiction based. I feel it's clear to see the distinction between fact and fiction.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

I wish the illustrations would be clearer and more defined especially when it come to describe the three different kinds of clouds in the sky. Also, on one page, it mentions that clouds keep us warmer at night. The illustration shows the boy sleeping in his sleeping bag with his cat outside. However, the problem I have with this illustration is that the sky doesn't even appear to be nighttime.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

I think this book would be perfect for my first graders in my field placement. I would recommend 1st grade as the maximum grade to read this book based on the simple text.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

There isn't a multicultural component nor is it free from stereotyping. Throughout the book, there is the boy, which is the main character, and the weatherman on TV in which they are both White. The book is around 13 years old, therefore I wonder if the author chose to rewrite the book now in 2017, what would the book look like now? How would it change? Would these questions, like multicultural component be taken into account?

Is the book free from gender bias?

The book was published in 2004, therefore it is dated. It isn't free from gender bias. The only character introduced throughout the book is a boy. Even on one page the boy is watching TV. The channel he is on is the weather with a weatherman to be specific. Therefore, it also implies a gender bias towards professions.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

This book in particular can be geared towards kids who are beginning to read. Therefore, I think the book does show a close association between science and other disciplines, such as Reading/ELA.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

The book is geared towards earth science. The setting take place outside, obviously, in order to see the clouds. It doesn't include any use of technology whatsoever.

Science Topics

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

Maximum Suggested Grade Level