Tornadoes: An Informative Picture Book About Storms and Extreme Weather for Kids

by Seymour Simon

Join award-winning science writer Seymour Simon in this picture book introduction to tornadoes! With winds that can reach speeds of three hundred miles an hour and funnel clouds that can measure a mile in diameter, tornadoes leave enormous damage in their wake. Now Seymour Simon examines these twisting columns of air and destruction. Simon explains how tornadoes are formed, why and when they are most likely to occur, how scientists classify and track them—and what to do if one touches down. With clear, simple text and stunning full-color photographs, readers will learn all about these amazing natural wonders in this informative picture book! Perfect for young scientists’ school reports, this book supports the Common Core State Standards. Check out these other Seymour Simon books about

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, Nature

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science:] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association).

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Liz Nealon.

You can follow Seymour on Facebook and on Twitter, as well as on his website, which offers free, downloadable Teacher Guides to his books for educators, parents and homeschoolers, as well as the popular Seymour Science Daily Blo

Reviews

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon, Seymour Tornadoes HarperCollins, 1999 (updated 2017). PICTURE BOOK $17.99 Content: G.

This book about tornadoes includes the different names of tornadoes and how they form. It also explains how the Enhanced Fujita Scale works and explains the different levels on the scale. A few of the worst tornadoes are described and it explains the areas that are most often hit by tornadoes. In the end the author gives advice on what to do if you are caught in a tornado.

There is a glossary at the back to describe some of the terms used throughout. There is also a reference to an online source that can provide a teacher guide and other resources. The pictures in this book are beautiful and fascinating. Storms and natural disasters are a hit with the young boys at my house, so they loved looking at the pictures, but the amount of text and high vocabulary was a bit daunting for them, which makes this book more appropriate for older elementary or middle school kids. As far as a simple and brief understanding of these beautiful storms this was a great read.

EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Courtney Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very educational non-fiction book. It had a lot of important and valuable information. The book did not use many words that would not be understood by a young reader. One negative that I would say about the book is that it is outdated. The book was written in 1999 and since then there has been more up to date information and facts about tornadoes. One of my favorite parts about the book is how it states that "learning about tornadoes saves lives." For children I think that this would be important to point out that it is okay to be scared in a situations like a tornado, but its important to know about them and what to do in that situation.
As a speech therapist in training, I think that this book could be used in therapy to talk about different safety protocol and the specific steps that need to be taken. You could also talk about different parts of the country and the different natural disasters that take place.

[Carly Bontrager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informational
3rd-5th grade
Wow, this book is packed full of information about tornadoes! I like the pictures of really tornadoes that were added in the book. I like that the book gave advice and tips on what to do when there is a tornado in your area. I know tornadoes can do a lot of damage, but reading about them and seeing pictures just astounds me on how destructive they truly can be. At times the amount of information felt overwhelming, but I also learned a lot.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

32 pages. Author's note at the beginning of book sets up the book very well. It has really great photos of tornadoes and the destruction they leave behind. It has great information for reports or basic learning. There is a helpful glossary at the end. Highly recommended for Grades 4 and up.

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is the real life photo on each page. What I didn’t like is that they change the background color and font color throughout the book. I rather them use of background color and font color, it makes it easier to read.

[Chelsea Merkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may capture the attention of a 4th to 7th greater who is interested in the origin of Tornadoes and how they come to be. The writing is large, the pictures of it's destruction and formation are sad and pretty scientifically cool, but may just be used as a picture book by preteens or teens.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seymour Simon is always a safe bet in Children's nonfiction. This updated version of the classic text includes information on the tornado in Joplin, Missouri.

[Larissia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off by explaining how tornadoes come about, then goes into the different kinds, and how dangerous they are. Uses real images from actual events.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice resource for my weather unit!

Q2021 book.

[Dana Levey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was the first book I learned how to read when I was 5. Sparked a heavy interest in meteorology for me.

[Richard Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good general book about tornadoes for an elementary age child.

[Hailey S.]

2022 WG Library summer reading challenge

[Aprill Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book to my 7 year old grandson. Enlightening

[K Morlando · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource used for our class unit.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's tornado season and considering the number of tornadoes that have been in the news recently, I thought it would be a good idea to read a book like this to our girls. They have never lived in a tornado-prone area (nor do we now, really), but I wanted to explain what they are, how dangerous they can be, what we should do if we ever have a tornado warning, and mostly, to alleviate any fears that they may have from watching the news.

We really liked this book and had some really good side discussions while reading it. The pictures are big and help depict how truly powerful this weather phenomena can be, but the narrative is fairly short and explains them without being boring. I also really like that the book explains how unlikely a tornado is to hit our home, in particular, which helps to calm a child's fears.

We really like Seymour Simon's books and we will certainly look for more at our local library.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that children really appreciate the awesome photographs and descriptions of the massive power of tornado storms. I'm looking forward to sharing this book with my students. I'm a little concerned that there's some ambiguity in the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. The book states that a tornado watch means a tornado is likely because one has been spotted. If a tornado has actually been spotted, then a tornado warning is issued. I'll just make sure the students understand the distinction. In either case, if there's a tornado watch or warning, folks need to take shelter. You shouldn't wait until the tornado sirens are blaring to figure out where to go.

[Richard Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tornadoes, the book is a stark reminder of the Author Seymour Simon,
The Author illustrated the enormity of tornadoes and how destructive they can be. Seymour eloquently described how a Tornado is 400-500 feet wide and extends 30 thousand feet in the air. Shockingly Seymour brought to bear on the frightening, most powerful Tornado recorded as 300 miles per hour! This was riveting and certainly left macroscopic damage after its departure. Eloquently displayed by the Author.

[$hanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was obsessed with this book in elementary school and checked it out of the school library ALL THE TIME!! This book has everything about tornadoes and what the word thunderstorm means in spanish (I know thats random but its true!) There are also many older tornado storys and some of the greatest tornado storys of all time in this book. I love reading about tornadoes but I would be terrified to be in one! HEHE!

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tornadoes are one of the most powerful natural disasters on the planet. They erupt out of nowhere. Touchdown for a little as a few seconds and can leave destruction and death in their wake. They also can pack winds estimated at 318 MPH! The deadliest tornado in US History was an F5 tornado that struck three states on March 18, 1925 killing 695 people! This tornado was also known as the Tri-State Tornado.

[Quaesha]

Setting: Nature
Awards: None

Tornadoes is great story than can be used to teach about severe weather and tornadoes. The author provides a great explanation for kids about how tornadoes are formed and when they are likely to occur. The author uses real photographs, which depicts accurate pictures of what tornadoes may look like in real life.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing tornadoes!? That is what I hope to do someday. As I mentioned already, I have loved weather ever since I was a little kid and I love storms. Again this is a great informational book that provides a lot of information along with great pictures.

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tornadoes are formed by supercell thunderstorms. They are very destructive and can pack winds up from 73 to 318 MPH. The strorgest tornadoes are F5's. F5 tornadoes are so powerful, they can lift strong brick houses of their foundations!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good book if a student would be wanting to learn about tornadoes or if they were even assigned to write about tornadoes they could use some information from it; however, it was published many years ago so the dates of bad tornadoes would be extended.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tornadoes are amazing works of nature. They are so interesting and mysterious in many ways. This book helps elude to what tornadoes are and how they form. It even gives events in history and their images. This is a wonderful book to use in the classroom.

[Jennifer]

Weather from our area is important to learn about and understand why and how it happens. This would be a great lesson to talk about where and why we take shelter at home and at school during bad weather because we are in Tornado Alley.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good example of an informational text, with a lot of common text features found in informational texts. The pictures are a little outdated and could probably use some updating, but it is a good example to show students.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hallmark of the Seymour Simon books are the brilliant full-page color photography.

[Marlaina stephan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is very informational

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tornadoes a good children's resource about weather phenomenon

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

good facts.