Heat Waves

by Trudy Becker

This informative title provides a basic overview of heat waves, describing how they form, the damage they can cause, and how to stay safe. Easy-to-read text, labeled photos, and a photo glossary make this title perfect for beginning readers. This book also includes a table of contents and an index. This Focus Readers book is at the Scout level, aligned to reading levels and interest levels of grades K–1.

16 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2026

Reviews

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so brief it's almost harder to review than a book for an older audience would be. With little to judge, we just have a few snappy sentences, leading to the sensible warning to stay in when there's a heatwave, and some very suitable photos. This really is the basics – a 'my first bad weather' book, although as it's in a set of six it might not literally end up as your first. I normally prefer such sets to be one book and not multiple, costly titles, but this is for the tenderest of wrists, so I'll let it pass.

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heat Waves by Trudy Becker

This is a short, sweet to the point book about heat waves for the budding scientist in your family.
It tells about the effects of heat waves, what to do in a heat wave and how to stay safe in a heat wave.
There is a nice glossary in the end of the book.
I recommend this book for the school library.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read quite a few books in this series now and also a lot by Trudy Becker too.

Sadly this wasn't one of the better books that I have read and I found it to be very brief and lacking quite a bit of detail

It is 2 stars from me for this one, there are better books on this topic out there for this age range.

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to admit, that cover thermometer photo sure brought back memories. After spending most of my life in sunny Florida, it was temps like this that prompted my final decision to move north to Alaska and cooler (okay, occasionally frigid) temperatures. It didn't help that the frequent lightning storms that often accompany such temps blew up my A-C on one of those triple digit days. As the book says, the heat doesn't go away, either, when you're in the midst of a heat wave.

This short, quick read designed for K-1 level does an excellent job of describing what a heat wave is to young readers. Yes, heat can make you sick. While I might wish the book had offered a few more suggestions on how to maybe not totally beat the heat but stay at least more comfortable in it, given the target audience it does its job of hitting the basics. The color photos do a good job of helping convey the sense of heat, too. Thanks #NorthStarEditions for this early peek and the reminder for me to appreciate the comparative coolness of Alaska all the more. There's also a glossary (illustrated), table of contents, and index to help guide young readers.