SUPER STORMS by Seymour Simon

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 2002. Super Storms. New York: SeaStar Books. ISBN 1587171384

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This level 2 (grades 1-3) reader is a non-fiction book about storms from the SeeMore series, which consists of 19 additional titles by Seymour Simon. This particular title is about three kinds of strong storms: thunderstorms (which can produce lightening, hail, strong winds and tornadoes), hurricanes/typhoons and blizzards. Simon defines each type of storm and gives examples of the kind of destruction wrought by each, often referring to specific storms that occurred in the past.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The photographs in this book are fabulous- often awe-inspiring and sometimes even terrifying. Most take up the entire two-page spread where the text is superimposed directly on the photo or is located within a text box on the photo. (On one spread, he includes a color-coded map instead of a photo.) In some instances, the photo distracts from and overwhelms the text, though this may be intentional.

By virtue of being a leveled reader for young children, the text is brief and to the point. Despite the simplicity of writing, Simon manages to communicate without coming across as either juvenile or condescending. Interspersed are some fascinating tidbits that bring the power of Mother Nature into focus. He writes, for example, “a bolt of lightening is 50,000 degrees. That’s five times hotter than the surface of the sun.” These types of comparisons make the information both interesting and accessible to young readers.

Perhaps because it is geared toward young children, the book is loosely organized- without reference aids, including page numbers. While it includes photo credits, it lacks any other source information for those interested in obtaining further information on the subject. This is unfortunate because this book may very well inspire young readers to want to learn more about weather phenomena.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From Books In Print: “From lightning to blizzards, learn all about the awesome power of these amazing natural disturbances.”

From School Library Journal: “Grade 1-3-Simon gets to the essence of his subjects through bold, dramatic color photographs and short, crisp texts.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Read other titles in this series by Seymour Simon:
Danger! Volcanoes ISBN 1587171821
Danger! Earthquakes ISBN 1587171406
Fighting Fires ISBN 1587171694
*Read this book in conjunction with a weather or natural disaster thematic unit
-make a “tornado in a tube” (using 2 soda bottles adhered like an hour glass)
*Read other titles about weather:
Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today?: All About Weather by Tish Rabe and Aristides Ruiz ISBN 0375822763
Weather: Poems for All Seasons by Lee Bennett ISBN 0064441911
The Kid's Book of Weather Forecasting: Build a Weather Station, 'Read the Sky' & Make Predictions! by Mark Breen ISBN 1885593392