In this sequel to The Dinosaur Disaster (2015), the young monster students of Mad Scientist Academy learn about weather conditions, thanks to Dr. Cosmic's newest invention, the Cooling/Heating Airflow Operating System, or CHAOS. The story opens on Dr. Cosmic embarking on a test run of his Sky Suit, a wearable weather balloon, which offers a nice opportunity to explain how air temperature and pressure affect weather. Then Dr. Cosmic takes the kids inside to show them CHAOS, but, true to its name, the machine malfunctions, and it wreaks lots of weather havoc. The kids are left to investigate their school's new wacky climate, and in the process, they learn some meteorological fundamentals, such as the water cycle, precipitation, thunderstorm formation, and tornadoes. The suspenseful adventure and lively artwork, featuring appealing kid monsters and an accessible, panel-heavy layout, will appeal to elementary-school readers looking for a fun read, and they'll likely pick up some helpful earth science concepts at the same time. Engaging and educational.

Having survived disastrous dinosaurs in the first series installment, students at the Mad Scientist Academy now attempt to comprehend the mystery of weather. Six students make up the class assembled outside the laboratory: an amphibious creature, a werewolf, a robot, a vampire, a giant insect, and a monster resembling Frankenstein's. Dr. Cosmic, whose flaming red hair recalls another cartoon scientist beloved by children, is ensconced in a wearable weather balloon, ready to test its efficacy. His colleague, meteorologist Nimbus, works the controls. As the sphere spins into the atmosphere, readers follow his progress and study charts to learn how clouds form and what causes wind, rain, and snow. Sequential panels move the plot forward and present information, while double-page spreads portray climactic moments, such as when the students try to apply what they have learned to correct the flood in the greenhouse and the snowstorm in the pool house by creating a tornado with the CHAOS machine. (The rear endpapers spell it out: Cooling/Heating Airflow Operating System.) Characters use their particular attributes to solve problems and help one another. Adults will appreciate the knowledge imparted in this STEM-friendly series as well as the encouragement to question, measure, and experiment; children will be attracted to the appealing caricatures and the cyclone wreaking havoc on the cover. With outlandish situations rendering scientific concepts memorable, McElligott has concocted a winning formula for learning as entertainment. (backmatter) (Graphic science fantasy. 6-9)