Red Sky at Night

March 19, 2018
MacKay (Waltz of the Snowflakes) once again relies on inventive, diorama-style artwork to create a moving story. Here, she pairs rhyming folk wisdom about the weather with glowing spreads that follow a boy and a girl on an overnight adventure with their grandfather, first fishing from a boat, then camping by a roaring fire, and finally running home just before a storm breaks. Each scene is an atmospheric photograph of a miniature, three-dimensional set that MacKay has created from ink drawings and cut-paper figures. The subject of weather’s forces and intriguing visual perspectives, such as a view above and below the water’s surface, invite wonder about the natural world. The meaning in a few couplets is fuzzy, but the loving, multiethnic family at the center of this gentle intergenerational outing offers a strong focal point for a unique introduction to weather concepts. Ages 3−7.

May 1, 2018

K-Gr 3-A father spends time with his children, teaching them how to predict the weather by watching for clues from the world around them. This is a picture book of concise weather-related sayings and idioms. Each couplet is full of wisdom and gives practical advice on what to be aware of in our surroundings, such as "When the dew is on the grass, no rain will come to pass" and "When ladybugs swarm, expect a day that's warm." At the book's end, a resourceful section explains each saying in detail. MacKay's meticulously created paper dioramas are gorgeous. The use of shadows and light are exquisite and readers' perception of depth is almost three-dimensional. VERDICT A wonderful resource for nature lovers and for any classroom, especially for art and science curricula.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2018
Paired with cut-paper diorama illustrations, folk sayings that predict weather become a story in this picture book.Author/illustrator MacKay begins with the saying "Red sky at night, sailor's delight," and the accompanying illustration shows a family--an older man and two young children--peering out the window of their cozy house into a red sunset. MacKay creates her illustrations by using cutout paper drawings placed in dioramas, lit, and then photographed. This technique achieves remarkable luminosity and a three-dimensional aspect, with the overall impression being that of looking into a magical stage set. The drawback, though, is that while MacKay does link story elements within the illustrations (the children appear throughout), the individual pictures still don't agreeably mesh because the light in each one is different, giving a subtle, disparate impression. The organization of weather-related folk sayings into a story of a family sailing, fishing, camping, and then heading home as a storm threatens is original and works well. Too, it may nudge readers to become more curious about their natural world (backmatter gives explanations behind the sayings). And the illustrations--individually--are mesmerizing. Both children and caregiver have beige skin and tightly curled hair, suggesting mixed heritage.Distinctive, luminous illustrations delight the eye, although visually the story lacks complete cohesion. (Picture book. 3-8)

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April 15, 2018
Preschool-G Two children and their father rise early and set off in their boat, gear in tow. As they sail, fish, swim, and camp out, they observe the conditions around them. When the skies darken and the wind whips up, they hurry home, arriving just before a downpour. Here art and words reveal different but parallel narratives: the plot unfolds entirely through the illustrations, while the text consists of weather sayings. The family's day is sunny ( When ladybugs swarm, expect a day that's warm ), but while camping, they note the moon ( Ring around the moon, rain will come soon ), and their hurried trip home is full of ominous signs ( Cats leap about and chase their tails, to warn of thunderstorms and gales ). The pleasing artwork is comprised of cut paper and ink figures, photographed on a miniature stage, creating a 3-D effect. Earth tones predominate, with red used to focus attention on the boat and skies. Appended with a note about the science behind these sayings, this makes a perfect fit for primary weather units.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
Stunning art--photographs of paper dioramas in which two children and a caregiver sail through and frolic beside luminous seascapes--adds a narrative element to this collection of weather lore. Historical weather-prediction sayings in rhyme are each based on observations in nature: "Ring around the moon, rain will come soon. / Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning!"  Back matter explains each bit of "Weather Wisdom." Bib.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)