Whether your love the warmth and sun or the cold and snow, you’ll find something to love in these weather books for kids. From how weather works to wild weather issues, there’s a lot in this forecast of books.
Books About the Weather for Children
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Books About the Water Cycle and Clouds for Children
When Cloud Became a Cloud by Rob Hodgson is one of the most clever and entertaining books I’ve read on the water cycle. Each chapter highlights a different form of cloud from snow to fog to rain. It’s so playful and informative at the same time.
Blue Floats Away by Travis Jonker is a delightful read-aloud that weaves in the water cycle through a story about Blue, a piece of an iceberg, who travels through the ocean.
Explain the different types of clouds from cumulus to stratus in Shapes in the Sky: A Book About CloudsGust and Gales: A Book About Wind by Josepha Sherman. Also, check Sherman’s Gust and Gales: A Book About Wind.
Follow a raindrop through the water cycle in Little Raindrop.
Different Kinds of Weather Books for Kids
I Am the Storm by Jane Yolen reminds us of our own resilience during a powerful storm whether it’s a tornado, blizzard, wildfire, or hurricane. Children will feel safe and empowered to weather any storm after listening to this read-aloud.
Explore Sam Usher’s seasons series with Sun, Rain, Snow, and Storm. Join Sam and his grandad as they navigate through all types of weather.
Gail Gibbons has loads of nonfiction books to her credit including Weather Words which will help build background and vocabulary around the weather.
Just as dependable for nonfiction reads over the years is Franklin M Branley’s Let’s Read and Find Out Science series. Check out Snow is Falling, Tornado Alert, Down Comes the Rain, or Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll.
National Geographic also has a slew of books about weather with stunning photographs. Try Explore My World Weather or Clouds.
Books About Rain, Thunderstorms, and Wind
Hello, Rain! by Kyo Maclear is all about prepping for the upcoming rain. What do you need to get ready? And, the rain creates a playground for growth and play.
Rain! by Linda Ashman opens our eyes to perspective when it comes to the rain. Do you love it or hate it? Well, in this book we have one child who is super excited about it and an older gentleman who is pretty grumpy about it.
Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre is a stunning photographic up-close look at raindrops. Little ones will be inspired to get up close to an object and observe a drop of water. Look for April’s work for lots of different seasons.
Rain by Cynthia Rylant shows us how some animals and people like to come inside when it rains while other people and things love the rain of the outdoors.
The animals all use different senses to sense the rain is coming in Rain by Manya Stojic.
When the Storm Comes by Linda Ashman walks us through the preparations that animals and people take before a thunderstorm rolls in.
Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle pairs nicely with Watersong because a thunderstorm has rolled in sending the townspeople to cover. This one is full of onomatoepia.
Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco is a beautiful story about a grandmother helping her granddaughter overcome her fear of thunderstorms as they busily gather items to make a thunder cake before the summer storm arrives. A recipe for the yummy cake is included.
Keep the rain-themed literacy learning going with these printable rain playdough mats.—-> Playdough Alphabet Mats
When the Wind Came by Jan Andrews is the story of all the feelings that a child or really any person has about an approaching storm from worry to fear to eventually gratefulness for rebuilding.
Windy Days by Deborah Kerbel and Miki Sato highlights all the degrees of wind we get as we move into autumn. Lyrical and full of vocabulary is packed in this board book. This book is part of a seasonal series. Also check out Snow Days, Sunny Days, and Rainy Days.
Books About Rainbows for Children
After the rain, if you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a rainbow. I have a whole book list dedicated to books about rainbows and a Read the Rainbow Reading Challenge.—> Rainbow Books
Books About Hurricanes and Floods for Kids
Saving Eli’s Library by Ruth Horowitz is inspired by a Vermont town that came together to help their flooded library. In this story, we meet Eli, his father, and a whole community who rescue the books from the flood waters of the river and then rebuild their community treasure.
The Coquíes Still Sing by Karina Nicole Gonzáles takes us to Puerto Rico where they once again are experiencing a hurricane. Yes, this book walks us through the loss but it also showcases the meaning of home, having rope, and the power of rebuilding.
Hurricane by John Rocco is the story of a dock destroyed by a hurricane and rebuilt by the people of the town. Stunning illustrations illuminate the power of a hurricane. Backmatter includes a diagram of how a dock is constructed.
What can happen to migrating birds during a hurricane? That’s what Numenia and the Hurricane: Inspired by a True Migration Story by Fiona Halliday is all about.
Two Bobbies by Kirby Larson is the story of two pets stranded from Hurricane Katrina and the friendship and bond that was formed between them.
All Hands on Deck! by Robert Neubecker is the story of the Cajun Navy, a group of small boats that band together to help rescue people stranded by hurricanes in Louisiana.
Floods by Alvaro F Villa is a wordless picture book about a family preparing their home for a flood and then the aftermath of the destruction of the flood.
Books About Tornadoes for Children
We definitely could see some more books on this topic. As a tornado survivor myself, I’d especially like to see more books in this category.
Otis and the Tornado by Loren Long is the story of a helpful tractor who comes to the rescue during a tornado on the farm.
Books About Snow and Blizzards for Kids
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino and Jon Nelson Ph.D is a fascinating look at snow. The magnified snow crystals are pure works of art and the information you gather from this book is a mini course in the science of snow.
Blizzard by John Rocco is a gorgeous book. Imagine getting so much snow that just about everything is closed in the town. The snow is so deep you can’t walk. But, there is much fun to have in a blizzard too.
For another science fact-filled book, check out Curious About Snow by Gina Shaw. It’s from the Smithsonian collection.
This non-fiction selection showcases Wilson Bentley and his passion for photographing snowflakes. He discovered that no two snowflakes are alike and each one is beautiful. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin won the 1999 Caldecott Medal.
For more winter books, see my big list.—> Winter Books for Preschoolers
Books About Climate Change for Children
The Story of Climate Change: A First Book About How We Can Help Save Our Planet by Catherine Arr and Steve Williams explains all the things that have impacted climate change and explains briefly how we can help.
Printable Book List for Weather Books
Grab a printable list of the books to take to the library or stick in your lesson plan binder.
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