Reviewed by Janie Stokes
Gifted Science Teacher
Rain and the Earth is one of eight books in The Science of Weather series for students in grades three to six. The focus of this book is on role that rain plays on the Earth, how the water cycle works, and the effects of water on all forms of life. The photographs are one of the series’ most appealing features; this particular book includes beautiful photos of people and animals all over the world in wet or rainy conditions. The accurate and thorough text covers cloud types, wetlands, and rainforests as well as the conditions caused by lack of rain.
Rain and the Earth could be used in an independent center for research or as a read aloud for younger students. Each book in the series is simple and well designed. The text is easy to read, with important terms printed in bold and written with plenty of contextual clues that will help young readers figure out their definitions. Scattered throughout the book are very simple experiments that a student could do independently. There are good diagrams, maps and charts, as well as an index and a glossary all designed to make learning about rain very easy.
Along with the other books in this series, Rain and the Earth would be a valuable complement to an elementary unit on weather. The consistent and accurate science content, coupled with a friendly format, make this a fine resource for the study of water and weather.
Review posted on 11/20/2001
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