The Tornado Scientist: Seeing Inside Severe Storms

Scientists in the Field

by Mary Kay Carson, Tom Uhlman (Illustrator)

In this addition to the critically-acclaimed Scientist in the Field series, scientist Robin Tanamachi and her team are trying to save countless lives across America’s heartland, chasing one tornado at a time.

Robin Tanamachi has been captivated by tornadoes and extreme weather her entire life. When she realized people researched weather for a job, she was hooked. She now studies tornadogenesis, or how tornadoes form, and what causes them to get weaker versus strengthen. For her, driving around in a Doppler radar truck aiming towards storms is a normal day in the office. The data she collects is then modeled and studied on computers—with math, physics, and computer science working hand in hand with meteorology. At the end of the day, knowing exactly how, when, and where these violent storms happen can give more warning time for everyone involved.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Picture Books, Nature

80 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2019

About the author

Mary Kay Carson is an award-winning children’s nonfiction author. She has written more than thirty books for young people about wildlife, space, weather, nature, and history. Her recent non-fiction titles include Emi and the Rhino Scientist, about the Cincinnati Zoo's famous rhino mom; Exploring the Solar System, recipient of the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Children’s Literature Award; The Wright Brothers for Kids; Inside Tornadoes; and the Far-Out Guide to the Solar System series. The author also gives presentations at schools and libraries about space, animals, history, and writing.

Reviews

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another excellent addition to the Scientists in the Field series. The Tornado Scientist follows meteorologist Robin Tanamachi as she explains her fascination with tornadoes from a young age and her career as a researcher and storm chaser. The book is an effective combination of the personal story of Robin, as well as personal stories from tornado victims and extensive information about tornadoes: their anatomy, their genesis, tornado ratings and more. One of the greatest strength of the book, as in all the books in this series, are the high quality photographs, which are both gorgeous and informative. Before and after photos of towns affected by tornadoes, photographs of tornadoes in various stages and photographs of scientific equipment with detailed explanations make enhance the text. I was fascinated to read about the difficulty in predicting tornadoes, particularly in Dixie Alley, the south, which has been Robin's main focus in recent years. Tornadoes in southern states have far more fatalities than storms in the midwest, but the landscape of the south makes it difficult to see storms in advance. The efforts of VORTEX-SE in gathering data from tornadoes in Dixie Alley is described in great detail with a focus on having a better forecasting system for tornadoes in the future. Includes an index, selected sources, links to find out more and a glossary of terms.

[Jewely Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction chapter book earned a spot on my favorites shelf because of its thorough review of all things tornado as well as its beautiful illustrations including maps, pictures, and graphic organizers. The text focuses on the question: how can science save lives when dealing with deadly dangerous tornadoes? The book covers a variety of science practices that go into being a tornado scientist including tracking tornados, predicting tornados, and categorizing tornados. The incredible pictures capture images of pre, during, and post tornados as well as different views (i.e., above and below the clouds). The text also includes pictures of scientists and their tornado tracking equipment. There are weather maps that provide details on tornados on a radar as well as weather patterns that scientist look for when predicting a tornado. I appreciate that this book has a vocabulary list at the back of the book with terms and student friendly definitions that could be used by students. Because of the complexity of the text and text features, I would say that this book is most appropriate for third grade and above.

Within reading instruction, this book would be very useful in providing instruction on text features such as a table of contents, maps, graphic organizers, chapter titles, indexes, and bibliographies. I could also imagine using this text to teach tier 3 vocabulary terms for a science lesson as this book even provides a vocabulary list with student friendly definitions. Additionally, this book would work well in a reading comprehension lesson where students are asked to identify key details or facts from a nonfiction text.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was considering including more weather books in my Spotlight on Natural America post, and reviewed this to that end. I decided not to simply because it was longer and I wanted to focus on picture books for a younger audience. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mom's Review
The tagline for books in this series is "Where Science Meets Adventure," and that could not be more true. The Tornado Scientist follows Robin Tanamachi, a meteorologist who has been fascinated by extreme weather since childhood. Readers accompany Robin as she chases tornados, researches tornado paths, experiments with new technology, and travels all the way to Japan to chase typhoons on a research expedition. The personal aspect of this weather book sets it apart from other weather books I've read with T. You get all the information you'd expect: how and why tornados form, how they are tracked and predicted, and all the tech used in monitoring and warning people, but the personal dynamic makes the narrative more interesting and enjoyable to read than a fact-dumping book.

T is not ready for the text; it is a bit technical for a 4 year-old. But the photographs are great for him. If you have an older kiddo (grade school) who is interested in extreme weather, this would be a lot of fun, and if you have someone working on a school project, this would be an awesome resource. (Or if you are an adult who likes children's non-fiction as a way to learn, it's good for that too....*glances in mirror*)

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how in this book it starts with a child experiencing a tornado and we find out how she progressed through school, entering science fairs, and even overcoming the words of some adults in her life that did not support her passion for chasing storms. I really felt this angle caught many of my students this year and made them think about the word, perserverance, more than other years.

I could not love this series more. If you have weather geeks, they will eat up the photo illustrations. There are diagrams, radar images, and photographs galore with great step by step of how weather is studied and what tools are used. There is wonderful back matter and the text is like reading a story with fabulous details. Currently my 5th grade students are reading them all and asking for more. We have chatted a lot about our Spelling Bee and how it moves into scientific language and they are quizzing classmates on some of the wonderful words they find in the Scientists in the Field series.

[Hanalei1208 Be · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be for higher elementary school students interested in the topic. Cataloged as Y

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Prof. Robin Tanamachi, mostly on field campaigns to study tornadoes in Tornado Alley (VORTEX/VORTEX2) and Dixie Alley (VORTEX-SE). The balance here between stories of work in the field, broader context, Tanamachi's background, and the science background was really great. And the explanations of the science and scientific equipment were done well!

The emphasis really is on the fieldwork. That said, the book points out that Tanamachi's research is mostly not fieldwork, that only one out of twelve months is really in the field, and it talks about how the rest of the year uses and relies on that fieldwork.

So many great storm pictures here.

There is some discussion of how we warn people better and help people heed those warnings and respond safely, as well as some other more social factors, but that did feel like a place where some of the context was lacking to me. I know that isn't Tanamachi's focus, but it's pretty inseparable from the science questions we have in the Southeast. And it was discussed a little! But two sentences about mobile homes contain a *huge* part of the story. (And Joplin... isn't as much a story of unheeded warnings as it's made out to be here, though that was of course part of it.)

CW: destruction from tornadoes (a few stories, a *lot* of pictures, probably my least favorite part here), injuries and deaths due to tornadoes (a story, numbers discussed more generally).

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Kay Carson shares how Robin Tanamachi has been studying tornadoes for years. The way she got into studying weather, how she performs her research, and some major studies she's been/is involved in. Along the way readers will learn a lot about how tornadoes form, the kind of destruction they can cause, and how scientists are hoping to reduce fatalities from tornadoes in the future.

I grew up in Ohio where we get plenty of strong storms and tornado warnings. I went to university in Ohio's tornado alley and witnessed some pretty serious destruction first hand and knew several people affected by tornado damage. So I also know that this book will not be for everyone. If you know someone has been traumatized by a tornado in the past, this book may not be for them. There are many pictures of tornado destruction in here, and several severe fatal tornadoes with some specifics about the deaths are mentioned too. For kids and teens fascinated by the weather, though, this might be just the book that inspires them toward a future career. The book does a great job explaining why we need people who want to study the weather. Highly recommended for curious readers and weather units.

Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. As mentioned, deaths in tornadoes are mentioned and a few specific incidents give names to the dead and what the tornado did to their bodies. One survivor who maintained serious injuries is also mentioned.

[Caroline Cogswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin Tanamachi is a Tornado enthusiast. She has been intrigued by Tornados since she was young and when she learned that she could study how they formed and worked, she made it happen. She travels across the country to chase tornados and collect data to form an understanding of why tornados happen, as well as where, and when. This is a great book to use for a science lesson to teach students what it takes to become knowledgeable in a area that they are interested in. This book could help guide a research project for the students to complete and use as an example.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great title in the Scientists in the Field series! These books are chock-full of great information about a specific topic, as well as featuring a scientist and what is involved in studying the topic. This book was no exception! And great photographs, too. Some of the technical information about the equipment used and how the scientist is trying to understand severe weather was a little complicated. Great!

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. Very interesting science and careers. I always learn a lot. Even with tornadoes, which I feel like I know a decent amount about, I learned a lot. The most interesting part for me was learning about how tornadoes and their impact is different between the Great Plains and the South. Lots of factors come into play and there is still a lot to learn, but it was something I knew nothing about.

[Lara Samuels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable but text heavy book. Focusing on one storm chaser made it more readable and since it is a woman it may help alleviate stereotypes. Will interest weather fans but, I think this book would see a limited checkout from an elementary school library. I may reread and see if I could mark read aloud sections for my science teachers to use.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I see a new "Scientists in the Field" book I grab it! I love this series. This one does not disappoint (although the pictures seem like they were all taken on one day and are quite posed) as Robin Tanamachi (bad ass meteorologist and tornado scientist) leads the chase into tornado science.

[Richard Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not finished yet, but this is a great book for a budding scientist in elementary school. I cannot wait to share it with my grandson.

Great book. Some of the terms will be hard for younger elementary students, but with help a younger student should enjoy especially if you live in an area where tornadoes occur.

[IT Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. So interesting and informative. Definitely one I will purchase and advertise.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this an interesting read. Nice details and great pictures.

[Aud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent addition to the Scientist in the Field series. Great photographs, and very clear about what the scientist do and why it's important. Also, lots of cool facts about tornadoes!

[Brenda Kahn]

Wow-ZERS! Totally gripping read. Scientists are bad-ass! Also, so happy to see the focus on a brilliant female.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent photos to go along with the relatively easy to understand explanations of the science of tornado research. My kids really enjoyed this book.