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Tornado
From Newbery Medal-winning author Betsy Byars comes a sweet, entertaining story that will touch the heart of dog lovers at any age.
A tornado appears in the distance, and the family quickly gathers into the storm cellar. The storm rages outside, but Pete, the farmhand, knows this is the perfect time to tell his stories about a dog named Tornado.
Blown into their lives by a twister when Pete was a boy, Tornado was no ordinary dog—he played card tricks, saved a turtle’s life, and had a rivalry with the family cat. Forgetting their fear, the family hangs on every word of Pete’s stories—both happy and sad—of this remarkable dog.
A tornado appears in the distance, and the family quickly gathers into the storm cellar. The storm rages outside, but Pete, the farmhand, knows this is the perfect time to tell his stories about a dog named Tornado.
Blown into their lives by a twister when Pete was a boy, Tornado was no ordinary dog—he played card tricks, saved a turtle’s life, and had a rivalry with the family cat. Forgetting their fear, the family hangs on every word of Pete’s stories—both happy and sad—of this remarkable dog.
64 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 1996
353 people are currently reading
1012 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Byars
131 books157 followersBetsy Byars was an American author of children's books. She wrote over sixty books for young people. Her first novel was published in 1962. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers and an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom!!
Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.
Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
September 1, 2016
What a great book!! To sum up why I like it:
1. That dog/the illustrations--he looks JUST like my big old beastie... warm fuzzies all around.
2. The reading level/plot/characterization--a great fit together. This is an early chapter book that will hold young readers' interest with a great story and memorable characters (not least of which is the dog, Tornado). It's not going to feel too "young" for older new readers, but it will still be understandable for young new readers.
I think it will make a good read aloud to the kindergarten crowd, too.
1. That dog/the illustrations--he looks JUST like my big old beastie... warm fuzzies all around.
2. The reading level/plot/characterization--a great fit together. This is an early chapter book that will hold young readers' interest with a great story and memorable characters (not least of which is the dog, Tornado). It's not going to feel too "young" for older new readers, but it will still be understandable for young new readers.
I think it will make a good read aloud to the kindergarten crowd, too.
February 8, 2022
Great little book! Uses dogs mannerisms appropriately, nice drama and twist. Just a nice book and proud to have it in my collection of books on dogs. Now if my kids would just give me some grandchildren so I have someone to read it to...
October 27, 2021
I remember reading this and loving it when I first read it; I may have even read it twice. This may have even been a 5 star book; I would need to reread to confirm.
November 19, 2011
4 1/2 stars. This was a short, fun book! I started reading it with one of my students who struggles in reading (about a 3rd grade level) and he enjoyed it so much he actually checked it out of the library on his own and was reading ahead! I told another of my struggling readers about it and now she is reading it! Good short stories within stories. Keeps the interest of those of us with short attention spans.
December 11, 2020
"In the book tornado there's a dog named Tornado and a boy named Pete and a cat named 5:30. Some people are telling a story about them. There's a tornado in the book so they had to go to the storm cellar." -Cadee, age 8
December 10, 2019
This is a great story for early readers. It's sophisticated and exciting; unusual for an beginner chapter book.
January 30, 2025
A sweet book about a farmhand telling stories about his childhood dog to distract a family during a storm.
May 19, 2025
Woof!
January 21, 2018
i love dogs. but the story was okay
February 6, 2011
This book is brief, only 49 pages. With large font, this is a great support for beginning readers and, hopefully a disappointment to readers when it ends too soon. I love the foundation for the plot: a family is stuck in a cellar during a tornado; there is additional worry because the father is still out in the fields. A farmhand provides the perfect diversion to the anxious group: telling stories about his beloved, childhood dog, Tornado, who turned up at his home during a storm similar to what the family is experiencing. This is great because most kids love heartwarming pet stories and also because it models a great use of storytelling. Is there a group huddled together with nothing to do? Tell a story! The stories are short and engaging. I will certainly be touting this one to my second and third grader animal-lovers.
January 29, 2024
As a tornado approaches the farm, Pete the farmhand rushes the family into the storm cellar. Mother worries about Father who has been working in the corn field. To distract them from the hail, the wind, and Father, Pete tells about the day another twister struck when he was a young boy. His family lost their house roof and found a black lab trembling in an old dog house that had blown into their yard. Named Tornado, the dog became a beloved member of the family. Pete relates stories of how Tornado played cards, protected a turtle, and got outsmarted by a cat.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
April 30, 2015
This is a nice quick read for young dog lovers everywhere. Each chapter is a short story about the adventures of Tornado, the dog who appeared on the family farm during a tornado. The tales come together as stories told by the farm hand, remembering them from his own childhood, when the family that employs him is hiding in the cellar from another tornado and worrying about their missing husband and father. The book is endearing and an easy read that would be ideal for making the transition to chapter books.
December 14, 2020
I really like this book! It is a good book right before you go to bed to read as a night story. I would recommend to read 1 chapter a night because each chapter is a different story with the family in the book. Hope you like it!
November 4, 2011
I liked the book but didn't. It was a short book. I wish it would have been larger in pages. Also, it was a good the dog came from the town they lived in.
February 3, 2016
The story is SO cute, about a boy and his dog, but is it really the right thing that they keep the dog? Not sure I enjoy this message (or the general ending of this book.)
January 24, 2019
Amazing story!
February 9, 2023
Why I Would Give the Book Tornado 3.5/5
By, A Fourth Grade Student
Have you ever been in a tornado? Well in this book there is a tornado and the family goes into the cellar and decides that they should tell a story. The main character, Pete, tells a story about when another tornado happened. They find a dog and name it Tornado. As you can guess, the book is named Tornado. This is why I would give this book a 3.5/5.
The first reason I would give it a 3.5/5 is that it has pictures every few pages. What I like about it is that it helps me understand the situation better. For example page 18, I could see what the card trick was, and see Tornado’s eyes looking kind of innocent.
The second reason is that it has the right amount of words. Which means it doesn’t have too many words or too few words. In fact, there is 49 pages in this book. I sometimes worry about what book to get because it’s too long, or short but this is perfect.
The last reason I would give the book Tornado a 3.5/5 is that I wish that the pictures had colors, and I wish that the pictures come more often so I can see what’s going on in each page. On pages 4,10, 18, 25, 38, and 47 have pictures and I think seeing the colors can make me think more.
To wrap it up, these are all the three reasons why I would give my book a 3.5/5, and I would recommend this book if you like books that are realistic, a bit short, and realistic fiction.
By, A Fourth Grade Student
Have you ever been in a tornado? Well in this book there is a tornado and the family goes into the cellar and decides that they should tell a story. The main character, Pete, tells a story about when another tornado happened. They find a dog and name it Tornado. As you can guess, the book is named Tornado. This is why I would give this book a 3.5/5.
The first reason I would give it a 3.5/5 is that it has pictures every few pages. What I like about it is that it helps me understand the situation better. For example page 18, I could see what the card trick was, and see Tornado’s eyes looking kind of innocent.
The second reason is that it has the right amount of words. Which means it doesn’t have too many words or too few words. In fact, there is 49 pages in this book. I sometimes worry about what book to get because it’s too long, or short but this is perfect.
The last reason I would give the book Tornado a 3.5/5 is that I wish that the pictures had colors, and I wish that the pictures come more often so I can see what’s going on in each page. On pages 4,10, 18, 25, 38, and 47 have pictures and I think seeing the colors can make me think more.
To wrap it up, these are all the three reasons why I would give my book a 3.5/5, and I would recommend this book if you like books that are realistic, a bit short, and realistic fiction.
January 14, 2024
I’m really surprised to see less than a 4 star rating for this book. For me, this story leapt off the page from the first chapter. I was prereading this to familiarize myself with the story and write discussion questions for my kids, but ended until really enjoying it. I even laughed out loud a couple of times and it set me on a path to an even better mood.
Completely appropriate for the classroom and family, a dog who rescues the minds from boredom or fear as the family is stuck in a cellar during a tornado. No animals are hurt or die in this story, which was an added relief.
Completely appropriate for the classroom and family, a dog who rescues the minds from boredom or fear as the family is stuck in a cellar during a tornado. No animals are hurt or die in this story, which was an added relief.
March 4, 2018
Reflective, nostalgic almost melancholic story of man remembering his pet dog from when he was young, and telling some of the stories, the way he ends up with the dog doesn't sit comfortable, but the story as a whole is quite well told, it is a pity it was so brief, there was scope for a longer read.
A beautiful book though.
This was the second of four books read on my weekend with friends, and looking at the library of the four daughters.
A beautiful book though.
This was the second of four books read on my weekend with friends, and looking at the library of the four daughters.
January 18, 2023
An adorable read dug up again at a thrift sale-- I have eerily strong memories of this one and I'm not particularly surprised why; the dog elements are cute and very realistic, and the art is lovely. There's an additional bonus in the form of the structure itself: you get several bite-sized episodes in the life of the dog, allowing kids to pick the book up and put it down at their leisure. Very sweet! Would recommend to any kid.
March 16, 2025
I read this book with my third grade reading group. They and I absolutely loved it! This is such a sweet story. It was very engaging and a story that pulls at your heart strings. Especially if you have ever loved a dog. This is a chapter book, great for early readers about a tornado storm, a boy named Pete, and a dog named Tornado, who they find in the storm. It is a wonderful story, especially if you are a dog lover. Highly recommend for third grade and up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 22, 2018
Dogs, cats, trying to find the good in everything, helping someone or creature get through a bad time and the enduring comfort and entertainment of stories based on a real life.
For my friends in Oklahoma, the telling of the aftermath of a tornado and the Dad's response are priceless.
The illustrations by Doron Ben-Ami are beautiful and expressive.
For my friends in Oklahoma, the telling of the aftermath of a tornado and the Dad's response are priceless.
The illustrations by Doron Ben-Ami are beautiful and expressive.
June 26, 2019
When it comes to dog stories, this is a good one, especially for kids to read aloud. The shorter chapters and overall length make it feel very doable for 8-11 year olds. But the story is rich enough that it motivates practice reading. My ten-year-old son and I both enjoyed the sweet story of the bond between a boy and his dog.
November 4, 2019
Cute story of life on the farm and the love of our animals. It was interesting that the first narrator is not named and we do not even know the gender of the young narrator or the age. We learn far more about Pete, our second narrator, and his family. It was a fairly quick read, even for my 3rd graders, but is rated to be a lexile of 610, guided reading O, and intended for grades 1-5.
October 26, 2021
A nice little early chapter book with great illustrations. The story mostly centers around a dog who showed up at a family’s house after a tornado, and was therefore named Tornado. Since we, too, live in the country and have a beloved dog who just randomly showed up one day, I am sure my kids will enjoy this one.
February 16, 2024
A quick 50 page early chapter book for wee ones (age 5+). It’s on battle of the books 3-4th grade list this year (2024) and reading it with my son.
Really great for a first take at plot development, and going over what a “twist” means. Also great to talk about narration and present/past tense within storytelling.
Really great for a first take at plot development, and going over what a “twist” means. Also great to talk about narration and present/past tense within storytelling.
February 29, 2024
My school is bringing back the Battle of the Books contest and I am on our teacher team and this was one of the selected books. This books was alright. I know its audience is ages 6-10 but I feel like it lacks substance. It’s basically just about a man telling tales about his dog while in a storm shelter to pass the time. Very basic book.
May 6, 2024
Reading this book made cry.I loved this book so much. I loved how tornado came back. It was also funny and sad. my favorite pat of the book was the end. The lesson to book is IF FIND A STRAY AND YOU TAKE IT HOME DO NOT GET ATTACHED DO NOT GET ATTACHED. Betsy Byars is one of my favorite authors. if you like this book let me know. have a good day.
May 22, 2025
CUTE. There was one time where I got confused on whose perspective we were supposed to be in because it switched mid-chapter, and I think this could have benefited from having one perspective be in third person and the other in first person. But overall, this was a sweet book and an enjoyable read.
December 15, 2016
The book "Tornado" by Betsy Byars is a book about a dog that flew into a boys yard during a tornado. The boy got really fond of the dog very quick. The dad didn't mind it either, just because it was so well behaved. I liked this book because even though it was small it was really intense and great. My favorite part was when Tornado came back to the boys house. My least favorite was when the real owners took the dog from the boy and the boy's dad. I would recommend this book to someone who likes "happy endings"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews