Erased by a Tornado!

Erased by a Tornado! effectively uses photographs to evoke raw emotion and explain the science of tornadoes. It begins with a first-person account from Mikias Mohammed, who lived through a tornado in Tennessee in 2008. The perspective gets broader as the location and formation of tornadoes is explained. A black and white photograph of Ted Fujita dominates the pages that describe the Fujita scale, used to measure tornadoes, and three photos from the deadliest tornado (Tri-state in 1925) follow. The book ends with photographs from communities rebuilding after tornadoes and tips for how to stay safe if a tornado strikes. Among the links that the publisher provides through its website is one to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for kids. First-hand accounts here provide follow-up content when students are learning about primary sources. Erased by a Tornado! is a National Science Teachers Association 2011 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12. It clearly deserves this designation.

Erased by a Tornado! effectively uses photographs to evoke raw emotion and explain the science of tornadoes. It begins with a first-person account from Mikias Mohammed, who lived through a tornado in Tennessee in 2008. The perspective gets broader as the location and formation of tornadoes is explained. A black and white photograph of Ted Fujita dominates the pages that describe the Fujita scale, used to measure tornadoes, and three photos from the deadliest tornado (Tri-state in 1925) follow. The book ends with photographs from communities rebuilding after tornadoes and tips for how to stay safe if a tornado strikes. Among the links that the publisher provides through its website is one to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for kids. First-hand accounts here provide follow-up content when students are learning about primary sources. Erased by a Tornado! is a National Science Teachers Association 2011 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12. It clearly deserves this designation.

Using the real-life experiences of an Ethiopian college student (Mikias Mohammed of Union University) as an anchor, this book tells the true story of a deadly cluster of monster storms in 2008. The author provides sound science, outstanding diagrams, and a historical context to make this a highly recommended book on the topic and an NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for 2011.Because the text begins as a narrative, it will attract readers who might not otherwise select informational science reading. It’s hard to resist the pull of the story line as the student struggles to survive the storm. The appendices include historical records, safety procedures, a glossary, and sources for further research providing opportunities for integration. The book might also spark a class effort to collect oral histories from communities related to weather events in the past.