The newly-launched What a Cloudy Day e-book teaches children the difference between various types of clouds and helps them forecast the weather.
With over 100 different types out there, clouds are probably one of the most overlooked elements in nature, yet the information they hold within their shape and formations can be both interesting and useful.
What a Cloudy Day by author and entrepreneur Monique Chambers, aims to teach children about the most common ones in a fun and interactive way.
“The idea came to me a few years ago when I read a book about clouds,” Monique says. “I remember flicking through it and thinking it would be the most boring read but ended up being fascinated by the fact that, by being able to tell the difference between clouds, I could tell whether it was going to rain anytime soon or not.”
Joining forces with the multi-award-winning audio-visual company Shadeena and supported by programming company JustSomeCoding, who are also behind Chamber’s site indulge.com.mt and the IndulgeMe gift app, Monique went on to write and create the first in this series, planned for children aged seven to 12.
The story is as much about friendship and being a good judge of character as it is about clouds. But, unlike many children’s books, it also has a very concrete scientific element to it
Narrated by actor Thomas Camilleri, the app sees children follow Cumulus, a good-natured cloud, which usually appear in the sky like puffy pieces of floating cotton, travelling through Cloudland trying to make friends.
On his journey, Cumulus meets a variety of different clouds, including the nutty Professor Cirrus – thin and wispy clouds that are formed of ice crystals – and the Mackerel Family, which are characterised by their rippling pattern caused by high-altitude, atmospheric waves.
“The story is as much about friendship and being a good judge of character as it is about clouds,” Monique says. “But, unlike so many children’s books out there, the story also has a very concrete scientific element to it.
“The last thing I wanted was to make learning about the weather and the scientific meaning of clouds boring, so each variety of cloud has a very individual and recognisable character.”
With the sky becoming a playground for Cumulus, children go through the story learning how different clouds anticipate rain, sunshine or even hail. The app also inspires children to want to head outside and have fun cloud-watching – a pastime which, as Monique herself explains, “is both free and loads of fun!”
What a Cloudy Day is available on the iTunes App Store as well as on Google Play, for just €1.99.