Resources Units 25-26: Surviving Historic Tornadoes

Books

Below is a list of books for this unit. Most, if not all of them, should be able to be found at a local library - however, you may want to add some to your own personal collection. Additionally - not all of the books are needed for the unit. Read the reviews and pick what would be best for your family.

I Survived True Stories Tornado Terror By Lauren Tarshis - This is the main book for the unit. It is required to complete the unit.

The Roaring Twenties by David Pietrusza – A well written book, with excellent photos and interesting facts. This would be a great book to teach from as a read aloud or reference book. Older children could read it on their own. Suggested for 6^th-10^th grade.

Take Ten Years 1920s by Maragaret Sharman – I really like this book. The photos are fantastic. There is so much information listed year by year. The pieces of information are short and educational – yet very interesting. Suggested for grades 4-6.

Decades of the 20^th Century The 1920s From Prohibition to Charles Lindbergh by Stephen Feinstein – An entertaining and engaging book. Topics include – lifestyles, fashion, fads, arts and entertainment, sports, politics, science, technology, medicine and more. Timeline included. Suggested for 4^th-8^th grades.

The Boys’ Book of Survival by Guy Campbell – An excellent guide to have on the shelf for a resource and to take with you during nature studies, camping family trips and more. An excellent book to help encourage and engage bright minds without the use of a screen. Suggested for students 3^rd-7^th grade.

How to Survive a Tornado by Marne Ventura – In this book you will find information on how to create an emergency kit and emergency checklist, as well as other information. Suggested for students 2^nd-5^th grades.

Joplin Tornado Survival Stories by Emily O’Keefe – A well written book, with excellent photos and interesting facts. Touching stories about survivors, survival tips and more. Book includes a timeline. Suggested for 3^rd-6^th grade.

Can You Survive Storm Chasing by Elizabeth Raum – An Interactive Choose Your Own Adventure book.. Suggested for 3^rd-7^th grade.

Tornadoes and Superstorms by Gary Jeffrey – This is a good book for reluctant readers. It is in the style of a graphic novel. There is some educational information in the back of the book. Suggested for 5^th-7^th grade.

Chasing the Storm by Ron Miller – This is an excellent book! One of my favorites. Great information and explanation, as well as several science experiments. Suggested for grades 4^th-7^th.

How Do Tornadoes Form? By Renee C. Rebman – This is a very good and simple book. The pictures are great, full of facts, quiz questions throughout and an activity in the back of the book. Suggested for 2^nd-5^th grade.

What Makes a Tornado Twist? By Mary Kay Carson – This book is packed with abundant information about different kinds of weather. Diagrams are very clear and information is engaging. Suggested for 1^st-4^th grades.

Inside Tornadoes by Mary Kay Carson – Another book by Mary Kay Carson. This is an excellent book. The before and after photos are amazing, the diagrams and information is very engaging. This book also includes hands on activities. Suggested for 3^rd-6^th grades.

Tornadoes – The Science Behind Terrible Twisters by Alvin and Virginia Silverstein and Laura Silverstein Nunn – This book is an easy and engaging read. Topics include weather, tornadoes and tornado tracking. Suggested for 4^th-7^th grades.

Tornadoes by Bill McAuliffe – This book is part of the Science of the Skies collection. The photos in this book are stunning! This would be a good read aloud or resource. Suggested for older students unless used as a read aloud.

Hurricane and Tornado by Jack Challoner – Eyewitness always makes great books that are appealing to many audiences. This book is loaded with information about what causes various kinds of weather. Suggested for 3^rd-7^th grade.

The Kids’ Guide to First Aid by Karen Buhler Gale – This is a fun book overall and would be an excellent addition to any home library for kids. Excellent for health, first aid, life skills and more. Suggested for 2^nd-5^th grade.

Kids to the Rescue – First Aid Techniques for Kids by Maribeth and Darwin Boelts - Although this is an older book – I really like it for it’s simplicity. Excellent for any health or emergency preparedness class. Also a good book to have on hand. Suggested for 3^rd-6^th grade.

A Cool Kid’s Field Guide to Weather by Lisa Regan – This is a very engaging book for younger students. Each flip page has smaller flip pages to open. Suggested for PreK-2^nd grade.

Meteorology by Christine Taylor-Butler – This book is a good, general overview of some different kinds of weather. Suggested for 2^nd-4^th grade.

Extreme Weather by Ann O. Squire – This book is very engaging and colorful. The photos are excellent. A good over view of extreme weather – including a timeline. Suggested for 2^nd-4^th grade.