In preparing this unusual book of American weather sayings and beliefs, Eric Sloane has made a painstaking effort to separate the true from the false, investigating the origins and separating the many truly valuable pieces of weather lore from superstition, or what he calls "jackass jingles." As Mr. Sloane makes clear, folklore can be a very loose term used to cover a lack of knowledge of the very thing that folklore means: many things are passed off as folklore that are plain mistakes or inventions.

Following general introductory remarks, Mr. Sloane has arranged his findings in an alphabetical folklore dictionary, enabling the reader to find readily the signs involving stars, wind, dew, rain, or whatever else he wishes. After each entry is a symbol indicating whether it is true (T), false (F), or possible (P).

Thirty-five drawings by the author clarify and enhance the text of this entertaining and informative book by America's favorite weather expert.

A former resident of Connecticut, Eric Sloane was one of the top weather experts in the country. He had prepared weather models for the U.S. Navy and designed the Hall of Atmosphere for the American Museum of Natural History. Equally noted as a painter, Mr. Sloane had exhibited in many galleries. Feeling that the sky was a subject generally ignored by most artists, he has done many paintings of skies and clouds, and has tried to fill the gap in technical books on painting with his book "Skies and the Artist."

Mr. Sloane has written and illustrated many articles on sailing and flying as well as on weather. His books for Duell, Sloan and Pearce include "Look at the Sky!," "The Book of Storms," "Eric Sloane's Almanac and Weather Forecaster," and "Eric Sloane's Weather Book."