Storms is appropriate for grades 5 and above. The sophisticated words, such as “hydroelectric,” “reservoirs,” “radio-sonde,” and “synoptic chart” are higher-level vocabulary. Long paragraphs make up the text. In this book, Jenny Wood provides clear information about storms, a short hurricane story, a quiz about storms, and storm activities. She explains how different storms, such as snow storms, hurricanes, and dust storms develop. The book describes how a particular storm is formed, characteristics of the storm, and outcomes of the storm that affect society.
The book offers activities for young readers. A section in the middle of the book teaches children how to make their own weather station. There are “True and False” questions for children to check what they have learned. A glossary and index help children identify and understand storm terms.
There is a short story about a family’s encounter with a hurricane. I felt like I was actually in the cellar next to the family as hurricane Dora smashed the island. After the eye passed over the family’s house, wind and rain battered for twelve hours. Finally, the storm ended. The devastated children witnessed chaos outside when they noticed upturned cars, smashed trees, destructed gardens, and an empty town. The excellent similes and metaphors helped illustrate the story. “The noise of the wind was like the roar of a dozen airplane engines all revving up together.” “It surged over the sand and crashed into the little painted wooden houses, sweeping them away like litter.” “An advertising board as big as a house whirled through the air like a playing card.”