As the months change from January through to December, so do the seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter - each puts a new slant on the world around us. Most of us associate the seasons simply with changes in weather. The Complete Book of the Seasons does explain the science behind spring showers and summer Sun, but it also delves deeper to explore all aspects of the seasons and their effect on the natural and human world. The book looks at seasonal science and nature, how people have coped with the seasons in the past, and at special customs and festivals. It combines enchanting and atmospheric artwork with captivating and informative text. A companion volume to the beautifully illustrated and original The Complete Book of the Night, The Complete Book of the Seasons explains which birds build nests in spring, why we sweat in summer, how we can predict autumn's weather with a pinecone and where snow sculptures are made in winter. A truly comprehensive and global guide, this book studies the seasons across both hemispheres, investigates dry and monsoon seasons and explains why some parts of the Earth do not experience seasonal changes. You can even find out about seasons on other planets! The spring, summer, autumn and winter chapters are carefully structured with sections on science and weather, flora and fauna, seasonal customs and history, sports and activities, and festivals. At the back of the book is a calendar that can be adapted to list the holidays, festivals, weather conditions and natural activity of a specific country. There is a comprehensive index.

 

This book is part of a book series called Complete Books Of .

There are 96 pages in this book. It is an anthology. This book was published 2002 by Pan Macmillan .

Sally Tagholm is a full-time writer of both books and magazines. She has written about a huge array of subjects and is the author of several successful history books as well as titles in Kingfisher's Animal Lives series. Her lyrical, informative text truly brings to life the changing seasons across the world.

This book has the following chapters: 6-15 Changing Seasons; Why we have seasons; the basic weather conditions that characterize the seasons; Monsoon and dry seasons; Cyclone and tidal-wave seasons; Polar and equatorial regions (non-seasonal); seasons on other planets; 14-35 Spring; The science of spring and its weather - spring showers; growth and regeneration Spring flowers; pondlife with frogs, tadpoles and nesting birds Spring cleaning; springtime on the farm Star gazing - the spring night sky of the northern and southern hemispheres Springtime in the park - skateboarding, roller-blading; fly-fishing Bun Bang Fai, a Thai rocket festival to summon rain; Toonik Tyme, an Inuit festival in Arctic Canada to celebrate the start of spring; St. Patrick's Day in Ireland; Holi, a Hindu festival in India 36-55 Summer; The science of summer and its weather - the power of the Sun and its effect on the Earth; Animals that thrive in the heat and those that struggle to keep cool; plagues of insects; Sundials, ice houses, Egyptian ostrich-feather fans, solar-powered houses, siestas, sweating; On the farm, including a look at rice paddies in China; Summer holiday - tourism, fun on the beach and watersports; Summer sport - baseball, cricket and tennis; Nadaam Festival in Mongolia; summer solstice; Sweden's Crayfish festival; 56-75 Autumn; The science of autumn and its weather - autumn winds; Autumn woodland colours, pinecones, fungi and berries; Animals preparing for winter - squirrels gathering nuts; Autumn on the farm, harvesting, sheep shearing on an Australian ranch; Hot-air ballooning, kite flying and hang-gliding; Thanksgiving and the Chinese Harvest Festival; 76-93 Winter; The science of autumn and its weather - snow, ice, hail and freezing temperatures; How animals adapt to winter weather; hibernation and migration; Roman central heating systems, hot-water bottles, frostbite, shivering, Seasonal; Adjustment Disorder (SAD); Winter on the farm, ice-skating, sledges and snowmen, snowboarding, ice climbing and the winter Olympics; Japanese Snow Festival; Inti Raymi festival in Peru; 94-95 Calendar of Seasonal Fun; A calendar of events throughout the year that can be adapted to suit a specific country - local changes in the natural world, festivals and holidays, regional weather conditions; 96 Index