Here Comes the Rain!: Can Animals Predict the Weather? (Penguin Young Readers, Level 4)

Gr 1-3--If a flock of sheep suddenly starts to huddle more closely together, it might be time to find shelter--rain is on its way. This is just one factoid that young readers will discover as they explore the many ways animal behavior can help predict weather. Some examples might be familiar, like how birds seek warmer weather as winter approaches, or how a famous groundhog named Phil tries to predict the end of winter. But other tidbits, such as how one can predict the temperature by how many times a cricket chirps, will be surprising. Young readers will learn how animals respond to normal weather patterns, as well as extreme weather like hurricanes and earthquakes. Combining eye-catching photographs with conversational text, fluent and independent readers will easily navigate the information, despite the absence of traditional nonfiction text features, such as a table of contents, index, glossary, and captions. The use of sound words throughout also helps maintain a lighter tone, considering all the information that is provided. Although the book is designed for independent reading, teachers who are planning small group or whole group instruction will appreciate the surface level comprehension questions and the short writing activity provided. VERDICT A solid choice for school libraries looking for additional nonfiction texts that support reading instruction.--Louie Lauer