From the series Deadly Disasters
The Eruption of Mount St. Helens
Reading Level Grade 3Interest Level Grades 3 – 7Copyright 2022
Reviewed From the series Deadly Disasters
Reading Level Grade 3Interest Level Grades 3 – 7Copyright 2022
ReviewedOn May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington. The blast caused millions of dollars of damage and affected the lives of thousands. In this hi/lo text, reluctant readers will learn about eruption, from the events leading up to it to everything that followed. Special features highlight the areas affected by the blast, the timeline of events, and the ways in which the area has healed in the years since.
The history and impact of famous earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and more are explored in this immersive hi-lo series. Each book begins with a short narrative describing a real-life story from inside the disaster, followed by a description of the science behind the event. Text features like diagrams and time lines effectively weave together the narrative of the disaster and its effects. The text, written at a third grade reading level, uses a controlled vocabulary, and short chapters are designed with striving readers in mind. While highly readable with a slim page count, these titles are also comprehensive and chock-full of facts. Appealing page layouts include bold graphics and photographs. Additional resources, including books and websites through Bellwether’s Factsurfer site, are also included. VERDICT: Tackling the high-interest topic of natural disasters, these informative titles are recommended for collections seeking nonfiction titles for striving readers.
School Library Journal
