The Cloud Watcher

by Skye Weatherton

A boy, the sky, and secrets in the clouds.

Grade 1 (Level G): Early readers10 pages

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

Characters

Kai

Ms. Weatherby

+2 more

Chinese Landscape

Story Arc

Kai often looked up. He watched the clouds drift by. Each one told a little story. Kai knew their secrets.

“Rain soon,” Kai told his friends. Lily giggled. Leo just shrugged. They wanted to play outside.

Kai walked past Ms. Weatherby’s garden. She looked at the sky too. Ms. Weatherby smiled a soft smile. She saw Kai watching.

“Tomorrow will be windy,” Kai said. “Then big rain will come.” His friends shook their heads. They hoped for sun.

Lily bounced her red ball. Leo climbed the big tree. They did not listen to Kai. They played their sunny day games.

The wind began to whisper. Leaves danced on the path. The bright sun hid a little. Kai felt a cool breeze.

Kai saw Ms. Weatherby again. She pointed to the sky. Her eyes met Kai’s eyes. A knowing nod passed between them.

Dark clouds rolled in fast. A drop of rain landed. Then another, and another! Lily gasped. Leo jumped down quickly.

“Kai was right!” Lily shouted. Leo looked at the sky closely. They saw the clouds now. Kai watched them learn.

The rain fell softly on them. Kai smiled a quiet smile. Nature always gives clues. Now, everyone looked and listened.

Make one of your own next.

drift: To move slowly and gently, like clouds in the sky.; He watched the clouds drift by.
secrets: Things that are hidden or not known by everyone.; Kai knew their secrets.
shrugged: To raise your shoulders to show you don't know or don't care.; Leo just shrugged.
weatherby's: This is a person's name and is not a vocabulary word.; Kai walked past Ms. Weatherby’s garden.
windy: When there is a lot of wind blowing.; “Tomorrow will be windy,” Kai said.
bounced: To jump up and down or make something jump up and down.; Lily bounced her red ball.
whisper: To speak very softly, like the sound of the wind.; The wind began to whisper.
danced: To move in a lively way, like leaves blowing in the wind.; Leaves danced on the path.
breeze: A gentle and light wind.; Kai felt a cool breeze.
knowing: To understand or realize something.; A knowing nod passed between them.
nod: To move your head up and down to say yes or to show you understand.; A knowing nod passed between them.
rolled: To move by turning over and over, like clouds moving in the sky.; Dark clouds rolled in fast.
gasped: To take a quick breath in surprise or shock.; Lily gasped.
climbed: To go up something, like a tree.; Leo climbed the big tree.
clues: Things that help you figure out a mystery or understand something.; Nature always gives clues.