Overview

Tornadoes occur throughout the world, but where do they happen most often in the United States. Read about the devastating effects of these powerful forces and find out what causes them, how they form, the difference between a waterspout and an onland tornado, and other amazing facts.

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9781432937935

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Reviews

This book is part of the Heinemann Info-Search series, which offers truly awesome descriptions of natural phenomena. Each book packages facts, science, statistics, and human experience with natural phenomena in a way that flows logically, making it attractive and understandable for students. The photos are worth a thousand words. Students watch and hear news in the media, but there is something about photos that makes them stop, focus, and reflect. The scientific explanations for the causes of the natural phenomena are kept simple, as are the technologies used to predict them. This simplicity will attract teachers to use this book for third- and fourth-grade elementary students; and the book is still challenging enough for fifth-grade students because it includes statistics that reflect the enormous economic and social implications caused by natural disasters. All books in the series use the same format, making them familiar to readers. Questions are highlighted, keeping readers focused on the answers. Who could stop reading with a title like It's raining fish and toads or Flying cows? Most tornadoes occur in the United States, but this book still highlights the vulnerability of all people to tornados, and particularly those from developing countries. Photos of roofless homes and mangled cars reveal the remnants of neighborhoods. Readers will see that a person in a trailer park hit by a tornado in the midwest has the same look of hopelessness as a man in Bangladesh standing where his sheet metal home once stood. To fully appreciate the power of a tornado, students need to hear the roar of its spiraling winds. The websites listed for reference contain riveting videos by people who have lived through tornados, and the visuals and sound are impressive. FEMA for Kids furnishes a connection to children who share their experience with tornados through stories and artwork. Other sources give more information in addition to lesson plans for teachers and projects such as building barometers or creating tornados in a bottle. The beauty of the books in this series is that the information can be used with current news stories. They bring many subjects together, making the books ideal for integrated studies at the elementary level. Teachers may want to provide comparisons to make the statistics easier to comprehend. Almost every page has a related photo, map, graph, or diagram with an information box explaining exactly what is depicted. Terms in the glossary are in bold text and relate to geography, social studies, and science. - Karen Timmons NSTA Recommends 1/25/2011 Website posted-- NSTA Recommends This visually appealing series is sure to catch the eyes of students and educators. Whether reading for research purposes or just for fun, these titles are sure to please. The interesting and accurate facts are presented in an easily understood vocabulary. Sections on what the force of nature is, what causes it, where it happens, who helps after it occurs, how it can be predicted, how people can prepare, and if the force of nature can be prevented are the main subtopics included. Incredible eye-catching photographs, diagrams, or maps are tastefully positioned on every page. Each title contains at least three case studies of actual events that bring these incredible forces of nature to life. Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Table of Contents. Index. -Amy E. Parker, Director of Lower School Library Services, Second Baptist School, Houston, Texas Library Media Connection November/December 2010 Issue-- Library Media Connection

Author Information

Louise Spilsbury is an experienced author of nonfiction books for young people. Her writing covers a wide range of topics from animals and science to history and social studies. Richard Spilsbury is an experienced author of nonfiction books for young people. He has written about a wide range of topics including science, nature, and history.

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