Special Collections
Understanding and Recovering from Natural Disasters
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Another Kind of Hurricane
by Tamara Ellis SmithIn this stunning debut novel, two very different characters--a black boy who loses his home in Hurricane Katrina and a white boy in Vermont who loses his best friend in a tragic accident--come together to find healing. A hurricane, a tragic death, two boys, one marble. How they intertwine is at the heart of this beautiful, poignant book. When ten-year-old Zavion loses his home in Hurricane Katrina, he and his father are forced to flee to Baton Rouge. And when Henry, a ten-year-old boy in northern Vermont, tragically loses his best friend, Wayne, he flees to ravaged New Orleans to help with hurricane relief efforts--and to search for a marble that was in the pocket of a pair of jeans donated to the Red Cross. Rich with imagery and crackling with hope, this is the unforgettable story of how lives connect in unexpected, even magical, ways. "In Smith's poetic hands, this poignant story barrels across the pages and into the reader's heart, reminding us that magic can arise from the deepest tragedy." --Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor Award winner and two-time National Book Award Finalist
Clifford And The Big Storm
by Norman BridwellThe most popular big, red, lovable dog that ever was! Clifford books have sold millions of copies in nearly half a century - and his series airing on PBS Kids TV has been enormously popular. In this book, When a hurricane strikes while Clifford and Emily Elizabeth are having fun visiting her grandmother at the beach, Clifford the big red dog knows just what to do to keep everyone safe.
David and the Worry Beast
by Caroline Attia and Anne Marie GuanciLearning to deal with anxiety is an important step in a child's healthy emotional growth. Conquering fears, and not avoiding them, is the lesson imparted in this story. David could not stop thinking about the basket he had missed at the end of the big game. He was worried that he might do it again. He was worried that his team mates would be angry with him. He was worried that his parents would not be proud of him. He was also worried about an upcoming math test. In fact, David was worried a lot. "Should I quit the team?" he asked himself. "Should I be sick tomorrow and miss the math test?" Luckily, David finally confided in his parents and school nurse, both of whom gave him support and techniques for controlling the "worry beast" within him. Delightfully illustrated, it focuses on a very real and essential topic.
Earthquakes
by Ker ThanWhat makes the earth quake, rivers flood, and volcanoes blow their tops? How do natural forces become natural disasters? Buckle your seatbelts and get ready for a bumpy ride to the center of the earth for a look at some of the wildest phenomena in the history of earth science!
Fault Lines
by Johanna WagstaffeEarthquakes are a terrifying yet fascinating force of nature. Seismologist Johanna Wagstaffe takes you through her own journey of understanding the earth beneath our feet. Along the way you’ll learn the science behind what makes the earth rumble and hear from kids around the world who have experienced the wonder, and terror, of an earthquake.
Fire in Their Eyes
by Karen Magnuson BeilWhat drives some people to stand in the path of a wall of flame? Who are these brave, foolhardy, visionary firefighters? This intimate look at the elite groups that fight wildfires explores the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of these courageous few as they battle wilderness blazes from Alaska to Maine. From the grueling training of a smokejumper class in Montana, through harrowing fights with some up-close-and-personal wildfires, to a group of inspired conservationists who use fire as a tool for preservation, Karen Magnuson Beil takes readers where only a few have ventured--into the heart of one of nature's most destructive and unpredictable forces: fire.
Flood
by Alvaro F. VillaWith intensely colored, gorgeous artwork, Alvaro F. Villa depicts the effects of a devastating flood on a family and their home in this wordless - and startlingly beautiful - picture book.
Green City
by Allan DrummondIn 2007, a tornado destroyed Greensburg, Kansas, and the residents were at a loss as to what to do next--they didn't want to rebuild if their small town would just be destroyed in another storm. So they decided they wouldn't just rebuild the same old thing; this time, they would build a town that could not only survive another storm, but one that was built in an environmentally sustainable way. Told from the point of view of a child whose family rebuilt after the storm, this companion to Energy Island is the inspiring story of the difference one community can make--and it includes plenty of rebuilding scenes and details for construction lovers, too!
Growing up in Tornado Alley
by Shawn TerminStretching across the Great Plains, Tornado Alley has the perfect weather conditions for forming tornadoes.
Hurricane!
by Jonathan LondonA young boy describes the experiences of his family when a hurricane hits their home on the island of Puerto Rico.
Hurricanes
by Patricia LauberTells how hurricanes form, how scientists study them, and how they have affected the United States throughout this century.
[This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts in grades 4-5 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
Hurricanes
by Seymour SimonTakes young readers on an in-depth exploration of one of the most awe-inspiring and devastating events in nature: hurricanes. Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon explains what hurricanes are and how they develop; what storm surges are; and the basics of forecasting and precautions that families should take. Booklist commented: "This is unsurpassed for kindling interest in a scientific subject and communicating an understanding of its scope and significance".
I Can Handle it! (Mindful Mantras)
by Laurie WrightThis book helps your child learn to handle with difficult emotions along with Sebastien, and provide a tool for lifelong confidence.
Jenny Is Scared
by Carol ShumanWhen Jenny and her brother are frightened by events in the world, their parents help them talk about their fears and feel better.
The Magic School Bus Inside A Hurricane
by Joanna ColeMs. Frizzle is a grade school teacher who takes her class on fantastic field trips using her magic, metamorphosing school bus. In this installment, the class is heading for a visit at a weather forecasting center when they find themselves in the middle of a hurricane. Learning about weather and hurricanes ensues.
Marvelous Cornelius
by John Parra and Phil BildnerIn New Orleans, there lived a man who saw the streets as his calling, and he swept them clean. He danced up one avenue and down another and everyone danced along. The old ladies whistled and whirled. The old men hooted and hollered. The barbers, bead twirlers, and beignet bakers bounded behind that one-man parade. But then came the rising Mississippi--and a storm greater than anyone had seen before. In this heartwarming book about a real garbage man, Phil Bildner and John Parra tell the inspiring story of a humble man and the heroic difference he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Natural Disasters
by Kim EtingoffStorms, tornados, floods, wildfires--the world is full of natural disasters that do terrible damage to our homes, towns, and cities. Knowing how to prepare for a natural disaster and what you can do if one does happen is the best way to keep yourself safe.
Natural Disasters
by Kathleen M Reilly and Tom CasteelWhen natural disasters happen they grab headlines around the world. People, creatures, and the environment are all impacted when nature gets out of control. Natural disasters can be upsetting to live through, but scientists today better understand their causes and how we can protect ourselves and others. Natural Disasters: Investigate Earth's Most Destructive Forces with 25 Projects teaches readers about some of the natural disasters throughout history, what caused them, their impact on civilizations, and how people today cope with natural disasters. Readers of this book will make their own shake tables, create a cake batter lava flow, invent a wind tunnel, and experiment with avalanches. These hands-on activities engage readers and add depth to the text while ensuring that the learning is made lasting and fun.
Once I Was Very Very Scared
by Chandra Ghosh Ippen and Erich Ippen and Jr“Once I was very very scared”, declared squirrel. The other animals chime in to share that they were also once scared. Through the story we learn what scared the little animals, ways they each respond when scared, and things that help them feel safe and calm. This book was designed to help young children who have experienced stressful or traumatic events.
A Place Where Hurricanes Happen
by Shadra Stickland and Renee WatsonNatural and man-made disasters are becoming more commonplace in children's lives, and this touching free-verse picture book provides a straightforward account of Hurricane Katrina. In alternating voices, four friends describe their lives before, during, and after the storm and how, even though the world can change in a heartbeat, people define the character of their community and offer one another comfort and hope even in the darkest hours. Adrienne, Keesha, Michael, and Tommy have been friends for forever. They live on the same street--a street in New Orleans where everyone knows everybody. They play together all day long, every chance they get. It's always been that way. But then people start talking about a storm headed straight for New Orleans. The kids must part ways, since each family deals with Hurricane Katrina in a different manner. And suddenly everything that felt like home is gone.Renée Watson's lyrical free verse is perfectly matched in Shadra Strickland's vivid mixed media art. Together they celebrate the spirit and resiliency of New Orleans, especially its children.
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach
by Brenda WoodsThe gripping story of a boy, a dog and a hurricaneSaint is a boy with confidence as big as his name is long. A budding musician, he earns money playing clarinet for the New Orleans tourists. His best friend is a stray dog named Shadow, and it's because of Shadow that Saint's still in town when Hurricane Katrina hits. Saint's not worried about the hurricane at first--he plans to live to be a hundred just to defy his palm-reader friend Jupi, who told him he had a short life line. But now the city has been ordered to evacuate and Saint won't leave without Shadow. His search brings him to his elderly neighbor's home and the three of them flee to her attic when the waters rise. But when Miz Moran's medication runs out, it's up to Saint to save her life--and his beloved Shadow's. .
Sergio and the Hurricane
by Alexandra WallnerA young boy is excited when he hears that a hurricane is coming to his oceanfront home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but when it comes, he learns how dangerous hurricanes can be.
A Storm Called Katrina
by Myron UhlbergWhen Hurricane Katrina hits, Louis' dad leads the family into an unfamiliar, watery world of floating debris, lurking critters, and desperate neighbors. When Daddy fails to return from a scouting mission within the SuperDome, Louis knows he is no longer a baby. It's up to him to find Daddy--with the help of his prized cornet. Picture descriptions added.
A Terrible Thing Happened
by Margaret M. HolmesAfter Sherman sees something terrible happen, he becomes anxious and then angry, but when a caring adult helps him talk about these emotions he feels better.
Tsunamis!
by Helen DwyerProvides facts about tsunamis, discusses how they are formed, examines where they happen, and includes information on tsunami warnings.