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Tornado!: The Story Behind These Twisting, Turning, Spinning, and Spiraling Storms
Book HardcoverPublication 4/12/2011 64Reading Age 10 and Up
64 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2011
4 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Judith Bloom Fradin
44 books8 followersJudith Fradin has co-authored more than three dozen children’s and young adult books with her husband, renowned writer Dennis Fradin. Starting in the 1990s, Judy began helping Dennis research and write the From Sea to Shining Sea state book series for Children's Press. When those books were completed, the Fradins collaborated on Who was Sagagawea?
Their next joint venture, the Clarion young adult biography Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, became the first of their three Society for Midland Authors Award winners. More award-winning Fradin biographies followed, including Five Thousand Miles to Freedom. The Fradins then co-authored the Witness to Disaster series for National Geographic Children's Books.
Judy Fradin loves visiting schools and libraries, sharing how an idea becomes a book as well as practical tips about writing non-fiction. She has spectacular slide shows for each of her Witness to Disaster books and for Five Thousand Miles to Freedom as well as her books about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Her Underground Railroad presentation features pictures she obtained for Bound for the North Star, Dennis's collection of true slave-escape accounts.
Their next joint venture, the Clarion young adult biography Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, became the first of their three Society for Midland Authors Award winners. More award-winning Fradin biographies followed, including Five Thousand Miles to Freedom. The Fradins then co-authored the Witness to Disaster series for National Geographic Children's Books.
Judy Fradin loves visiting schools and libraries, sharing how an idea becomes a book as well as practical tips about writing non-fiction. She has spectacular slide shows for each of her Witness to Disaster books and for Five Thousand Miles to Freedom as well as her books about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Her Underground Railroad presentation features pictures she obtained for Bound for the North Star, Dennis's collection of true slave-escape accounts.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 8, 2024
“I liked the tornados. I liked that Melanie Metz from Pecos Hank was in it!”
November 29, 2019
Since weather books are the current bedtime reading choice for my boys, we have read several recently. This one rates near the top. The content is good, but the photos are great. It's broken up into short chapters that make it easy for young readers to get through without getting overwhelmed.
September 27, 2018
Kids loved the pictures
It's wordy for young ones, but Nat Geo always does a great job
this was really useful in my classroom this week- thanks for being ahead of the game to help me out
It's wordy for young ones, but Nat Geo always does a great job
this was really useful in my classroom this week- thanks for being ahead of the game to help me out
May 7, 2011
The book starts by telling the reader about a monster tornado that struck Greensburg, Kansas back in 2007. Using bulletins from the weather service and comments by those who lived through it the reader gets a glimpse of the terror and incredible damage a tornado can cause. The photographs, as one would expect from a National Geographic book, are stunning. The picture of an almost entirely black sky with a tornado touching down is shiver inducing. There is nothing quite so humbling as Mother Nature.
The following chapters talk about the development of tornado science and prediction. The charts and diagrams and quick facts add nicely. The design of the book is very attractive and appealing, especially for reluctant readers. The lists of tornado records will of course need to be adjusted after this most recent outbreak, but the numbers are still impressive. For example, the widest known tornado was two miles, the highest wind speeds ever recorded on the planet were in a tornado, 318 miles per hour. Facts like these are hard to fathom for those of us who haven't witnessed them. Like most National Geographic publications, the photographs are its strength, creating awe on the part of the reader. The list of websites and books at the end of the book are a nice complement to the rest of the book. I highly recommend this book for those who want a better understanding of tornadoes and their affect on human lives.
The following chapters talk about the development of tornado science and prediction. The charts and diagrams and quick facts add nicely. The design of the book is very attractive and appealing, especially for reluctant readers. The lists of tornado records will of course need to be adjusted after this most recent outbreak, but the numbers are still impressive. For example, the widest known tornado was two miles, the highest wind speeds ever recorded on the planet were in a tornado, 318 miles per hour. Facts like these are hard to fathom for those of us who haven't witnessed them. Like most National Geographic publications, the photographs are its strength, creating awe on the part of the reader. The list of websites and books at the end of the book are a nice complement to the rest of the book. I highly recommend this book for those who want a better understanding of tornadoes and their affect on human lives.
April 25, 2016
This book is a great informational book that follows a few major tornadoes that have hit the United States. It explains the damage and contains breathtaking pictures of the devastation left behind from these natural disasters. It is even filled with survivors' stories and quotes about their experiences in the storms. Throughout the book, there are also fun facts, maps and diagrams to give one a better understanding of what happens during a tornado.
One of the things I really liked about this book was the layout. The book was designed with a white background and had pictures, framed text and captions dispersed on the page. The pages were filled with information but it wasn't overbearing. I also liked how real pictures were used to show the destruction caused by tornadoes. I think it's important for children to see how dangerous these events are and how to prepare for them. Overall, I thought this was a really good informational book. It was a far from boring and I think children will find it interesting as well.
One of the things I really liked about this book was the layout. The book was designed with a white background and had pictures, framed text and captions dispersed on the page. The pages were filled with information but it wasn't overbearing. I also liked how real pictures were used to show the destruction caused by tornadoes. I think it's important for children to see how dangerous these events are and how to prepare for them. Overall, I thought this was a really good informational book. It was a far from boring and I think children will find it interesting as well.
August 13, 2016
I'm learning that I really like most of these National Geographic books. I like that they're usually very visually engaging with cool pictures and typography. The overall layout makes it an easy read. The text is informative and full of primary sources from meteorologists and storm chasers. Weather vocabulary is definitely there but is balanced with words like "humungous." It has all the additional information expected from quality nonfiction books.
This would totally pair with Ivy Ruckman's Night of the Twisters.
This would totally pair with Ivy Ruckman's Night of the Twisters.
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February 4, 2016Genre of Tornado!: Informational Nonfiction
Age Range: 10+
Twin Text Entry #5: Disaster Strikes #2: Tornado Alley by Marlane Kennedy
I chose "Disaster Strikes #2: Tornado Alley" as a twin text to "Tornado!" because it is a fictional story that talks about kids that have to go through a tornado. It also provides information about the effects of a tornado, just as the nonfiction book I paired it with does. Both books are targeted towards the same age range and I think they would be great paired together.
Age Range: 10+
Twin Text Entry #5: Disaster Strikes #2: Tornado Alley by Marlane Kennedy
I chose "Disaster Strikes #2: Tornado Alley" as a twin text to "Tornado!" because it is a fictional story that talks about kids that have to go through a tornado. It also provides information about the effects of a tornado, just as the nonfiction book I paired it with does. Both books are targeted towards the same age range and I think they would be great paired together.
October 8, 2013
This book was so cool. I liked how the author explained tornados and what to do if one happened. I also liked how she used real pictures of the damage that tornados can do. this book was very influential and educational for readers. it was a good read!
February 24, 2013
Did you know that tornados have struck all 50 states and come in all colors?
Grades: 2-8
Topic: Weather, tornados
Grades: 2-8
Topic: Weather, tornados
October 17, 2012
Photography and an eye-catching graphics make the information come to life!
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June 30, 2016This book is interesting with facts and more interesting thing!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews