Something About the Sky by Rachel Carson can be too flowery, overly poetic, funky artsy and yet beautiful, thoughtful, and creative. This book is not for everyone, and even if this book is for you, it might not be an easy read. Take your time reading, be comfortable, do not be afraid to start over and to read multiple times. Also do not be self conscious about saying, “I did not get that” as I said that many times. I give this a four for potential, it is a great book for the right reader and there are some fantastically expressive illustrations.
Nikki McClure is the illustrator and I ended up reading the art more than the text. The publisher description says: “Cut-paper wizard Nikki McClure is a brilliant steward for the words of a pioneering environmentalist in this wondrous ode to clouds—and the scientific “language of the sky.” And while I agree they are wonderfully done, that too is a bit flowery. In the end, that was what this book was about. It is flowery. The publisher’s description of the text is: “Rachel Carson’s shimmering essay.” Everything was an art book. Everything was for someone who probably was a bit more sophisticated than I am.
Therefore, I will just stick with those illustrations. They are paper-cut (as above said) so they have a classic feeling, but fresh. They are classics that you can see hanging on a child’s wall. I was picturing them carved onto wood blocks. It was a “sensation of the eyes” experience. I am reading this online, but I know when the finished product happens mid-March 2024 it will be a pleasant gift book for people who like Carson and nature.