The Cloud Watcher

by Skye Weatherton

Kai loved watching the clouds. He saw many secrets in the sky.

Grade 1: Early readers10 pages

A child learns to identify different cloud types and predict weather by watching the sky

Characters

Kai

Ms. Weatherby

Leo

Lily

Soft Watercolor

Story Arc

Kai looked up at the big, blue sky. He loved to watch the clouds float by. They moved slowly, like fluffy sheep. Kai saw different shapes and sizes.

One morning, Kai saw dark clouds far away. They looked gray and heavy. “It will rain soon,” Kai said softly. He felt a little breeze too.

Kai saw Leo and Lily playing hopscotch. “Rain is coming,” Kai told them. Leo skipped. Lily shook her head. They wanted to play more.

“See the low clouds?” Kai asked. “And feel the cool air?” Leo shrugged his shoulders. Lily pointed at the sun. They did not notice the changes.

Kai walked past Ms. Weatherby’s garden. Ms. Weatherby was tending her plants. She looked up at the sky. She felt the air too.

Ms. Weatherby nodded slowly at Kai. She had seen it too. Dark clouds covered the sun. A gentle wind started to blow.

Then, a big drop landed. Another one followed. Plink! Plonk! It started to rain! Leo and Lily looked very surprised.

Leo ran for cover under a tree. Lily quickly put her arms over her head. They watched the rain fall. Kai knew it would happen.

“The clouds were low,” Kai explained. “The wind blew cool. Nature tells us secrets.” Leo and Lily listened closely. They saw the clues now.

Now, Kai, Leo, and Lily watch the sky together. They look for all the clues. Nature always has something to share.

Make one of your own next.

float: To move gently and lightly through the air or on water without falling.; He loved to watch the clouds float by.
fluffy: Soft and light, like a cloud or cotton.; They moved slowly, like fluffy sheep.
heavy: Weighing a lot; hard to lift or move.; They looked gray and heavy.
breeze: A light, gentle wind.; He felt a little breeze too.
hopscotch: A game played by hopping over squares drawn on the ground.; Kai saw Leo and Lily playing hopscotch.
skipped: To move along lightly, taking a step and then a hop or jump.; Leo skipped.
shrugged: To raise your shoulders to show you don't know or don't care.; Leo shrugged his shoulders.
tending: Taking care of something, like plants, by watering and weeding them.; Ms. Weatherby was tending her plants.
nodded: To move your head up and down, usually to say yes or to show you agree.; Ms. Weatherby nodded slowly at Kai.
gentle: Soft and mild; not strong or rough.; A gentle wind started to blow.
surprised: Feeling or showing that you did not expect something to happen.; Leo and Lily looked very surprised.
cover: A place to hide or stay dry from the rain or sun.; Leo ran for cover under a tree.
explained: To make something clear or easy to understand by telling more about it.; “The clouds were low,” Kai explained.
clues: Hints or signs that help you figure something out.; They saw the clues now.