Heather and the Stormy Birthday by Linda Oatman High

Get whisked away with Heather Whirl, Weather Girl, and her magical umbrella as she explores extreme weather and climate science in this new STEM chapter book series perfect for young readers ages 6–9.

Heather Whirl is fascinated by the weather! With eyes that change color in response to rain or wind or heat, Heather would like nothing more than to be a meteorologist or a climate scientist when she grows up.  When Heather turns eight, her eccentric great-grandmother gives her a family heirloom—an umbrella with the power to teleport her to areas experiencing wild weather conditions. Heather’s umbrella has a built-in magical doppler that alerts her to wild weather happening somewhere. In the blink of an eye, Heather travels to the middle of a superstorm!  Heather observes and learns about the weather, but also lends a helping hand and documents her adventures with her friend Edward and animal companions Fog the dog and a lizard named Blizzard. Her journal entries, notes from her helpers, definitions, and activities provide additional information for the curious reader.

Series Overview: The Heather Whirl, Weather Girl series will take readers to extreme weather events around the United States and the world, providing accurate but hopeful information about weather and our changing climate.

Linda Oatman High is an experienced and versatile children’s book author of over 25 books for children (and teens), including picture books and middle grade and YA novels. Her work includes Hound Heaven, which was nominated for the Rebecca Caudill Award; City of Snow: The Great Blizzard of 1888, which was added to the 2005 NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book list; and many others. Linda holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College, and she teaches both nationally and internationally.

Kris Aro McLeod is an author, illustrator, and former elementary school art teacher. She has illustrated several children’s books, including The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee, Catch a Kiss, and Lizzy and the Last Day of School. She has illustrated and written poems for Ladybug, Spider, and Cricket Magazines. Her work has been reviewed in School Library Journal, Kirkus, and others.

Author Residence: Bowmansville, PA

Kris Aro McLeod is an author, illustrator, and former elementary school art teacher. She has illustrated several children’s books, including The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee, Catch a Kiss, and Lizzy and the Last Day of School. She has illustrated and written poems for Ladybug, Spider, and Cricket Magazines. Her work has been reviewed in School Library Journal, Kirkus, and others.