Flood

April 1, 2014

Gr 1-3-These fun books will captivate young readers. Though some photos are on the fuzzy side, they're generally action-filled and will entice readers, while informative text boxes provide additional material. The books also present some content on how people can stay safe during these frightening weather conditions (for instance, advising going to higher ground during a flood). Exclamatory text and short, concise sentences ("Boom! A thunderstorm begins") make these books accessible but still exciting.

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2014
Grades 1-3 With a brevity that conveys urgency, this entry in the It's a Disaster! series describes the destructive powers of rising floodwaters: The moving water knocks over trees. It carries away cars! The message does indeed come across like a warning, with the text on each page placed against a caution-sign-yellow background. Meanwhile, additional factoids are presented in black and red boxes that look like danger signs. Large, bright, and worrisome (but not too scary) photos depict the phenomenon as an international concern, showing waterlogged foreign countries and unspecified places that look like Anywhere, U.S.A. Fearful youngsters are given a glimmer of hope near the end, where recovery efforts are the focus, and actionable steps (listen to weather reports, go to higher ground, keep flashlights and canned food) are provided for those who live in flood-prone areas.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)