Book Review: A Sideways Look at Clouds and Cloud Dance

By Chris Hubbard, Education Director

There is one location at Merck Forest that consistently draws our attention, and with it, conversations about our connectivity to those far away from us. An unassuming spot located up by our blueberries, it’s at the crest of the hill where the land slopes in two directions, a watershed divide directing the flow of water toward the Atlantic Ocean via either the Batten Kill to the west or the Mettawee to the east. We often talk about how what we do on this mountainside has the ability to impact those who live downstream from us. The precipitation that falls tends to come from the west, across Lake Ontario and the southern Adirondack Mountains, transported as clouds. But how much do we actually know about those masses of water vapor that skim over Merck Forest, which at times can quickly envelope us in a misty cloak?

I recently discovered A Sideways Look at Clouds, by Maria Mudd Ruth, and was intrigued after a quick skim of the book. A former researcher and editor for National Geographic, Ruth focuses on natural history topics for both adults and children. Her experience of moving from sunny southern California to foggy Olympia, Washington, and then encountering a poster of various cloud formations, made her realize that she did not really know what a cloud was and set the stage for her research.

Ruth delves into the intricacies of clouds over ten chapters, each which begins with the definition she created after researching numerous definitions for the word cloud: “A cloud is a visible mass of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the earth.” Each chapter focuses, in order, on the bolded words. She takes us along on her exploration of clouds, with a blend of personal stories, easy-to-understand scientific explanations, and a dose of humor thrown in for good measure. You’ll come away with a better understanding of the science of clouds, as well as added appreciation for them.

Merck Forest is a fantastic place to cloud-watch. Settling on the Sap House deck, an expansive vista opens to the west, and clouds can be observed from miles away as they make their way over the southern Adirondacks toward Merck. I can guarantee, you won’t be disappointed with the show the clouds have to offer.

While A Sideways Look at Clouds is an adult read, Cloud Dance by Thomas Locker offers the younger set an introduction to the world of clouds. Locker’s illustrations, painted in the Hudson River School tradition, with short, poetic text, show the range of cloud formations, from low lying stratus to high cirrus clouds. A scientific note at the back of the book, including an illustration, answers some questions children may have about clouds, and accompanying activities provide additional engagement for curious kids.

Check with our Visitor Center and/or your local bookstore for availability of these books.