Josh Judge spends much of his free time teaching weather to children, in schools and libraries around the state. After one such lesson early this year, he was approached by a teacher who explained to him that although the state requires schools to teach about the weather, there was no book available which met NH teaching standards for the subject and age group. This sparked an idea in the meteorologist’
Kathe Cussen, a science teacher at Hampstead Middle School, describes what happened next: “I received a phone call from Josh asking, ‘You want to write a weather book with me?’” Soon after, the pair had a meeting with James Maynard, whose company, SciArt Media, had previously published “Black Ice,” on the 2008 ice storm and blackout in New Hampshire, for which Josh had written the foreword. The publisher was quickly aboard. After collecting all the information on state requirements and suggestions for such a book, the two authors started writing.
“It's very different, but offers new challenges and rewards,” adds Judge, talking about the writing process. “I loved that I got to take time to think about ways to say the point I was trying to get across, as opposed to TV where I ad-lib everything live!”
The foreword for the book is written by former PBS host Richard Lederer and the book has been favorably reviewed by such New England icons as Fritz Wetherbee, Harvey Leonard, Bruce Schwoegler, John Clayton, Mike Haddad and others.
"Weather Facts and Fun" is geared toward 7-11 year-olds in the Granite State and surrounding areas. It combines both unusual facts (for instance, the Empire State Building gets hit an average of twenty-five times a year by lightning), along with fun activities (like building a wind gauge out of household materials). The book also has lots of pictures from around the Granite State (many in full-color), two foldout activity maps for students, plus chapter challenges after each section to help learners teach themselves by doing activities.
Judge and Cussen will be holding a benefit book signing for the non-profit SEE Children’s Science Center in Manchester, on Saturday, November 14th at 1pm.
The book retails at $19.95, and it will be available at selected bookstores around the state, including all Toadstool Bookshop locations, Borders in Keene and Concord and other smaller locations. The book is also available at: www.weatherfactsandfun.com, on pre-sale through the end of October.
