Twister

by Darleen Bailey Beard, Nancy Carpenter (Illustrator)

Two children experience a tornado.

Although she sees them safely to the cellar, Mama has to leave Lucille and Natt and go help Mr. Lyle, an elderly neighbor. She tells the children not to open the door until she comes back. But Mama doesn't come back, and Lucille must comfort Natt throughout the terrifying experience of a tornado.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Family

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 1999

Reviews

[donna backshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Twister in a Little Free Library down the street from my house. I was like WHAT, even the cover looks terrifying. What a difficult subject to attempt for children. How insane would an author and illustrator have to be to undertake this?

But you guys, this book was fantastic! It treated the subject of Scary Mother Nature fairly and without any hype. It was actually almost comforting, definitely hopeful and empowering.

Through the eyes of two children, we watch a regular family enjoying a regular summer day when a storm blows in, bringing a tornado. Everyone knows what to do, and even though they're scared, they do what needs to be done and take care of each other through it all.

I would love to see this as a series, where families are prepared for and confidently survive a house fire, a flood, an ice storm, coming upon a wild animal, all the scary things we inevitably encounter depending upon where we live.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The soft, hazy illustrations match well with the memory of childhood. This is a somewhat scary story of two children surviving a tornado without a parent with them. Some suspense before finding out what happened to their mother and house.

[Kalynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I have never yet been in area where a tornado is whipping wide and strong, I can imagine that it can quickly come upon you, like it does for these siblings. One morning they are enjoying a swing on the porch, and soon, their mom is calling them quick to seek shelter. Potentially a play on words, this story has a twist, as their mom leaves to help a neighbor and the two young siblings wait in darkness for her return. The illustrator and author paint that portion well, as well as the look on their faces, and strain on their bodies as the twister is overhead.

[Sharla Bazen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Children's Picture Book (MAISA Mentor Text)

Unique feature: This book has a positive message with lots of good descriptive words. Great book for emphasizing details in your writing and also has a lesson of being thankful for what you have even when (especially when) bad things happen.

Grade level suggested 2-3 depending on how you use it.

[Rani · Rating 4 out of 5]

#Twister #tales Safe in the #Cellar, Lucille and Natt are alone. Can they survive the twister? #Brave #kids #YoungReaders #PictureBook #BookReview #ChildrensBooks #amreading

[Kary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in Oklahoma, I think many of my students will be able to relate to this story.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The illustrations and the story captured a strong childhood memory perfectly.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it's not specifically stated that this book is about central Oklahoma, we discussed how that area is in "Tornado Alley" and would be a perfect setting for this story. The story is a focused moment in time in the lives of two siblings, as they ride out a tornado in their family's storm cellar. It's an intense story, as the fury of the storm rages above them and they are unsure if their parents and neighbor are safe. The illustrations are terrific and conveyed the varied emotions throughout the tale. We were introduced to this story at a "Survival Stories" event at our local library and we enjoyed reading this story aloud together. Our oldest especially enjoyed it as she was in the middle of learning about tornados at school.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gut-wrenching personal narrative of a brother and sister's harrowing experience during a tornado when they have to wait out the storm alone while their mother helps an elderly neighbor. Lots of discussion points here: staying calm and positive in a crisis, the mother's ethical dilemma, the children's reaction to the destruction afterward. Colored chalk illustrations.

[Danna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tornado season in Oklahoma! What can we say? I used the book as a beginning of a creative writing piece for my third graders. We have experienced so many devastating tornadoes in our area the past few years that the children have their own text to self connections. It was quite interesting to read their personal stories of bravery in the midst of a storm.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about a tornado that two siblings experience. Their mother is notin the cellar with them and so they comfort and help each other. This is good to talk to students about weather and compasssion and even being brave.

[Ann Valdez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I give this a low rating because the mom tells the 2 children to stay in the cellar and do not come out until she comes for them. When tornado ends, the children come out to go find their mom. This is a horrible lesson. I cannot believe that developed the story like that. Stupid.

[Bethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brother and sister experience a tornado - abrupt transition from the electricity going out to running for the storm cellar.

[Haley Catlett]

Enjoyed the rural aspect of this book, images, water colors. Could be a real incident type book/experience for kids to relate to.