Resplendent in a sunflower frock and sunflower earrings, Ms. Frizzle is ready to conduct a new crop of kids onto her unusual bus. This time, it's a trip into the clouds to gather facts about hurricanes--firsthand. When her bus transforms itself into a hot-air balloon (and later into a weather plane) to take a close look at one of the world's hurricane breeding grounds, the kids, especially Arnold, realize this won't be an ordinary lesson in meteorology. As is usual in the Magic School Bus series, Cole presents the science in easy-to-understand terms, with Degen clarifying the concepts and adding comic relief through double-page-spread pictures that brim with details. It's a great combination of fantasy and science made even better by the fact that the layout of the book makes it easy for readers to tell the difference. (Reviewed June 1 & 15, 1995)

Once again, Ms. Frizzle's at the wheel as the kids from her class study weather--seen up close, as the bus becomes first a hot-air balloon, then an airplane that survives both a hurricane and a tornado on its journey to the weather station. Great suggestions for reports and projects are crammed into the pages, along with many scientific facts. Cole and Degen continue to present science to children in a humorous manner.

Gr 1-3-Another wild and wacky field trip for Ms. Frizzle and her intrepid students-this time into the eye of a hurricane. The magic school bus changes into a weather balloon and then into an airplane as the class experiences the hurricane and a spin-off tornado firsthand. As usual, Ms. Frizzle's wardrobe is as changeable as the weather. The familiar format features lots of weather information delivered via students' written reports and spoken comments (dialogue balloons). A subplot features the hapless Arnold, who becomes separated from the group with only Ms. Frizzle's talking radio for company. He survives several harrowing adventures before the magic school bus/plane picks him up. All ends well, the class celebrates with a party, and the Frizz has bees in her bonnet as she anticipates the next class project with a new outfit.-Eunice Weech, M.L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL