This book is great when discussing hurricanes and the work effort people take to secure their homes and properties. the illustrations are black and white. i would use this book during hurricane season. ( )

A young boy rides out a hurricane in his home with his parents. The family spends time preparing before the storm hits, and repairs the damaged property after the storm. The boy feels excited, scared, and connected to nature, all at the same time.

The book would aid elementary aged students in Southeast Louisiana in viewing a hurricane experience from another kid's point of view. ( )

(fiction, easy, YA) John and his family are preparing for a hurricane off the New England coast. As John and his father scurry about securing their boats, gathering groceries, etc..John notices the seagulls preparing for the storm and thinks about protecting his favorite place, his treehouse. He comes to realize that all elements of nature have some role to play in preparing for the storm, each in it's own way, and he feels strongly connected to it all. The next morning he awakes, anxious to see if his treehouse and the tree survived. The tree is there, though changed, but his treehouse is gone. He vows to build a new and better one in the summer. He comes to realize just as he can rebuild his treehouse after the storm, the earth and nature around him will rebuild as well. He realizes that the storm is neither good nor bad, just a part of life. Faith McNulty is known for her nature writing. Her knowledge has lent itself well here in a realistic easy to read chapter book. I think early novel readers would enjoy this book and find the chapters leading up to the storm to hold some anticipation. Particularly in the hurricane prone area of the country where I live, this book would hold some credence and reference with young readers. ( )