Reading Level: Grade 3 Interest Level: Grades 3 – 7
On December 26, 2004, an enormous earthquake ripped through the Indian Ocean. This triggered a series of massive tsunami waves, some as high as 100 feet tall. In this hi/lo text, readers will learn about the events that caused the tsunami as well as the effects it had on the areas it struck. Features illustrate how a tsunami starts as well as how much destruction the tsunami caused.
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.
