Hurricanes! Book

Learn how hurricanes are formed, how they are named and classified, and what to do if a dangerous storm is on the way.

Imagine a force that can toss boats around like toys, wash away bridges, and create waves as high as eighteen feet. With fierce winds and torrential rains, hurricanes can do all of these things. They can cause tremendous damage and even change the shape of a shoreline.
For centuries people did not know when a hurricane was coming. But now we have new methods to predict when and where these storms will occur.

Children's Literature

Basic information about hurricanes is presented in clearly written text accompanied with illustrations, diagrams, and maps to aid in understanding. Readers learn how hurricanes are formed and where they most frequently occur. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, is staffed with meteorologists who track the storms and rate them according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, ranging from Category 1, with the least impact on the environment, through Category 5, which causes massive flooding and destruction. Three Category 5 Hurricanes are described, including the one in Galveston in 1900, Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Information about forecasting and tracking hurricanes includes definitions of a "storm watch" and a "storm warning" and ways to prepare for each of them, including evacuation. Definitions of key words are printed on the informative illustrations. An "Interesting Facts" page in the back compares hurricanes to other types of storms found around the world and lists websites for further information. A good source of information for young researchers. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.