Disasters

by Kieron Connolly

Disasters: The Biggest Disasters in History [Paperback] [Jan 01, 2013] Connolly, Kieron

Genres: Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Kevin Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was nice in that it was chronological, but there was very little info really on what happened. I guess I could just look it up on Wikipedia. Some stuff I'd forgotten about. It was ok.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the format of this well-done book. Each disaster covers two pages. One side is a photo. The other side gives the name, two paragraph description, map showing where it took place, four interesting, related facts, and another illustration. It's organized and easy to look at. I don't enjoy those junior nonfiction books that just have small words, and illustrations scattered all over the pages. It's confusing to read.

I found this book interesting and horrifying. I get so caught up in where I live that I forget about what's going on in the wider world sometimes. I don't think I had really understood how many people died in recent disasters like the Haiti Earthquake and Tohoku Earthquake. Over 500,000 people died in the Bangladash Cyclone fifty years ago. As a result of government implemented farming practices, 45 million people perished in a famine in China in the 50s. I mean, people I know were alive when this was happening! I tend to think of these disasters as being something that could only happen in the distant past. This book reminded me how naive I am sometimes. I was contemplating all the "disasters" in the US, and how they were truly terrible, (any life lost is a tragedy), but the numbers are so small in comparison. I kept thinking of how careful we need to be with our Earth. When it roars up we remember how fragile we are. Disasters will happen but we should do everything in our power to mitigate the consequences and avoid manmade disasters.

I don't really love reading about disasters because I find it incredibly sad and depressing, but I'm glad for the brief oversight and knowledge I gained from this book. There were a couple disasters I'd like to learn a little more about.

[Sandy Sopko · Rating 4 out of 5]

More nonfiction, disaster and survival events. Ranges throughout human history, from 1750 BCE when salts in the Indus River accumulated on the fields in the valley and destroyed an entire civilization, known now for our earliest record of plowed fields, to 2012 when Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast and reached as far west as Wisconsin. Interesting photos, illustrations, maps, together with bulleted lists of fascinating facts, will likely inspire young readers to dig for more information.

[Joseph]

it is a great book the learns things about disasters and what things happened after like a change reaction. I would give it five stars because it is a great book the , learn the rich history of the earth.

[Lillian Frye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so informational and give so many great facts about history. In this book you can learn about the world's history from many years ago to just 2 years ago. When I read this book I learned so many new facts about the world we live in today.

[TKhia. H Haywood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a ok book I would recommend this to people who want to learn about disasters. I never know that France had a powerful army. I knew that hurricane Katrina was bad but I did not know that it wiped out New Orleans. I did know that one point in time that it got so cold that all the crops would not grow. I think that it is some crazy magic thing that no one knows how the statues were put in place on Easter island. It may be mean but true if the Spanish never found Americans we would have never had some of the diseases we have today. Rats sailed on a ship to a big island eating everything killing different kinds of animals then they send a couple of owls in to kill the rats but in stead of killing the rats they killed a different kind of owl.

[Carl K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. There were many interesting disasters I haven't heard of. I can guarantee whomever else reads this book, they would. At least I hope so. I liked the disaster of Pompeii. It had very many interesting facts. I studied this in 3rd grade and I remember some of the facts mentioned in the book. I also like the titanic disaster. The same as Pompeii. Studied titanic and remembered many facts that were mentioned.

[Ems Loves to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting review of disasters that have happened in Earth's history. There were a few awkward things that could have been fixed with some better editing, but overall, a book that I'll definitely put into my classroom library and let my kiddos have at it.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to disasters ranging from volcanic eruptions to tsunamis, tornadoes, to the Exxon Valdez, Titanic, and Hindenburg. Kids will enjoy the pictures and maps.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was short and easy non-fiction read for my students. It's a good one to introduce them to non-fiction, in an interesting way.