Tornado Alert (Let's Read-And-Find-Out Science

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2

by Franklyn Mansfield Branley, Giulio Maestro (Illustrator)

Describes the origin and nature of tornadoes and how to stay safe when threatened by one of these dangerous storms.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens

31 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Brooklynn Gookin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it tells us what to do in a tornado to make sure we are safe, I also like this book because it is very fascinating and cool to learn about.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explains how tornadoes form, where they are most likely to happen, what kind of destruction they can leave (including specific examples from history), and how to stay safe during a tornado.

This may be over 30 years old now, but the science and safety information are still on point. The books does a good job of educating kids on the science of tornadoes, and conveying just how powerful and damaging tornadoes can be without crossing over into too scary or too much info for the target age group. If you are in a tornado prone area, this would be a good way to introduce your safety plan at home or school for a tornado warning to kids. Also a good pick for weather units and curious kids.

[Sarah Herman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book obviously it teaches you about tornado. Before I read this book I didn't know how dangerous tornadoes are really. I so recommend this book

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long, and not engaging. No photos- sketches... hard to engage with children.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and practical information given in an accessible manner. Explains the origins of the word, the conditions required, and what you can do to keep safe in the case of a tornado.

[Sarah Hannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Reaction - I liked this book because of the artist media chosen and the subject matter of tornados which are important to know about in this area of the country.

Purpose/Use in the Classroom:

Read aloud to make a curricular connection:
-Science unit on tornados
-science unit on weather

Independent Reading:
-Students who are interested in learning about weather
-Students who are interested in learning about what a tornado is and how a tornado occurs.

For nonfiction:
-There is no index or glossary which I thought was interesting but I suppose it doesn't necessarily need one because it talks about what tornados are, where they occur, and how scientists look out for them.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has good explanations of tornadoes, but the illustrations are not the best. They are updating a lot of books from this series so new illustrations may be available.

I liked that the author provided scientific explanations yet comfort and empowerment that a child can be safe during a tornado.

We'll use this again for our weather study. Or if we ever live in a place where we might have a tornado.

As an aside, the Let's Read and Find Out series is exceptional. Very high quality and the best on any given subject!

[alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a bad introduction to tornado formation and saftey, but the events cited in the book are quite dated. I would appreciate an updated version with references to recent tornadic activity (especially in the southeast USA) as I think students usually connect better with events within their lifetimes. Heads up, it does reference fatalities on some pages.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tornado Alert is a Let's Read and Find Out Science at the elementary school child's level. It gives information about how, when and where tornadoes are most likely to form. It has drawings with directional arrows and maps to help children understand about the science of a tornado. It is an excellent book for a science unit on weather.

[Kristin Traina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could make a good intro for a weather unit, or a good book to have available for students to read while learning about weather. It specifically talks about tornadoes and that is very relevant to where we live.
Grade: 1st- weather

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great educational book for my kids!

[Tierra Garr · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the recent tornadoes we have had in our state, I thought this would be a good informational book about them. It's a good read and easy for kids to understand.

[Deborah Harris]

RL 3.70 GRL-P

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nonfiction text that is good for introducing tornadoes to kids. It provides new vocabulary like Radar and storm cellar.

[Zachery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the pictures in this book.

[Cws]

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[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Biggest problem with this book is a lack of text features.

[Sarah Childs]

“Tornado Alert” by Franklyn M. Branley. Published by Harper & Row; New York; copyright 1988
1. Awards this book has received: none
2. Appropriate grade level: first to fourth grade
3. Summary: This book addresses a lot of interesting facts about Tornadoes. It covers the shape and colors of a tornado, how they form, where they strike, when they form, and how they move. It also teaches about how to stay safe when a tornado hits and what to do to prepare, what to do during the storm, and what to do after.
4. Review: This book would definitely strike the interest of students who are interested in tornadoes or even weather as a whole. The images are drawn and not pictures of real tornadoes that have been recorded but it is still informational and answers questions that someone would want to know about these storms.
5. Uses in the classroom:
-tornadoes don’t occur everywhere. Look at a map to get a visual of where they do occur and talk about the kind of weather that happens where we live.
-as a science lesson, go into depth about how they form and the terms that are introduced