The Windy Day by Al Roker

First off, I'm glad to announce that Bookworm for Kids is again listed on the Top 100 Children Book Blogs—yay! You can find the listing HERE.

When thing Autumn brings with it is wind. So, when I saw today's read, I needed to take a look. It swings around the weatherman Al Roker and promises some science goodness. This one is for the beginning readers out there, and I'm curious to see how all of this comes together. If nothing else, it's already inspiring me to go out and grab my kite.

So, let's take a peek!

THE WINDY DAY

Weather Hunters

Ready*To*Ready, Level 2

by Al Roker

Simon Spotlight

Beginning Reader

32 pages

ages 5 to 7

Lily Hunter figures out how to measure wind in this Level 2 Ready-to-Read by Al Roker based on his animated TV show, Weather Hunters, on PBS KIDS!

Whatever the weather, we’re in it together!™ Lily Hunter and her family have just moved to a new house that has a workshop full of weather gadgets. How do they work?, Lily wonders. Her father, a weather forecaster on the news, is having trouble delivering the weather report because of strong winds. Can Lily use the gadgets she found to save the day?

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Wind knowledge blows in with grace and fun in an enjoyable read which makes learning enjoyable.

Lily Hunter wonders how anyone can measure the speed of the wind, and her family's move to their earlier grandfather's house brings many surprises in that direction. Not only is there a spinning wind vane on the top of the house, but there are all sorts of clever contraptions in the rooms, which spin when the windows are opened. But the real surprises hide in the work shack.

The wind facts are delivered in an entertaining manner, and I was surprised how much I, actually, enjoyed following them. Lily has a perky personality with enough down-to-earth feel to make her seem like she'd be a great friend. Her interest in the contraptions is understandable and her curiosity contagious. I see readers wishing they could experience the spinning objects, too, and add a few to their own homes. Even the weather gadgets in the workshop come across in an interesting way to make learning about them flow naturally. 

The book is based on Al Roker's show, Weather Hunters, which works especially well for those who recognize him, but even those who don't won't have much trouble sinking in. I had not seen the show and was a bit confused when Lily and the rest constantly referred to him as 'Al', although he appeared to be their father. I'm still a bit uncertain on that end and am assuming that he is, indeed, the dad.

The text flows nicely, takes a few pages to settle into the adventure, and then, grabs the rest of the way through. The illustrations are bright and familiar to those who know the show.

This fits the age group nicely and works especially well for themes surrounding weather.

And here they are...

Al Roker is the popular weatherman and co-host of NBC’s TODAY. With fourteen Emmy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award, and over forty years on air, he’s one of America’s most trusted morning show anchors. As CEO of Al Roker Entertainment, he produces award-winning content for network, cable, digital, and streaming channels. Through his company WeatherHunters, Inc., Al created the PBS Kids animated STEM series Weather Hunters, which won the ALSC Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award. A bestselling author and media personality, Al has also given a TED Talk and written over a dozen books, from cookbooks to essay collections to children’s books. He lives in New York City with his wife, ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts, with whom he shares three adult children and granddaughter, Sky. Visit him on X and Instagram @AlRoker or on Facebook.