Hurricane!: A Picture Book for Kids (Ages 4-8) About Surviving a Storm with Family in Puerto Rico

by Jonathan London, Henri Sorensen (Illustrator)

"The power, danger, and excitement of a hurricane are brought to life in this picture book." (School Library Journal) Told from the perspective of a boy who witnesses the sky growing ominously purple and rushes to evacuate with his family, Hurricane! is set in Puerto Rico and based on a childhood experience of the author's. The family huddles together in a shelter while the winds howl. They and their neighbors take solace from gently singing "Silent Night" while waiting out the storm. The you-are-there immediacy of this picture book, which ends with the family back home on a gorgeous sunny day, allows children to safely experience the drama of surviving a hurricane.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 1998

About the author

Jonathan London is the author of several celebrated children's books. His commitment to honoring the wonders of the natural world has been lauded by readers and critics alike. He is the author of more than 70 children's books, many of which are about nature. He's also the author of the popular Froggy series. He lives in Graton, California with his wife and two sons.

Reviews

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale of a hurricane is based on the author's experience as a boy. But that's not what makes it so good. For that credit goes to author Jonathan London, ably aided by illustrator Henri Sorensen.

Adventure and urgency drive this story. Here's a favorite quote, from the part of the story when families are seeking shelter:

Somebody started to sing, so quietly at frst that I thought I was just hearing things. But her voice grew stronger. Jeff joined in, then my folks and I.

Soon everybody in the shelter was singing "Silent Night.".... Christmas was months away, but no one cared. The singing made us feel better."

Perfect ending, btw.

[zunggg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five stars for the artwork (massive, alluring, louring), three and a half for the prose (a bit overwritten but it is about a hurricane after all), but only two stars for the narrative (reads like a third grade "what I did on my holidays" presentation). Why are so many kids' books unable to transcend what was obviously the author's personal experience? E.g., I don't know that "Triste" is the name of your dog, do I? Why locate it specifically in Puerto Rico? How does that help me put myself in the narrator's shoes?

But those illustrations. Yes!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy describes the experiences of his family when a hurricane hits their home on the island of Puerto Rico.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

London Odyssey #69
Well told short tale of a hurricane with great illustrations to match and help increase the intensity of the experience.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy describes his family's experience of a hurricane on the island of Puerto Rico. Vivid descriptive language and beautiful paintings enhance the telling and showing. Mentor text for 2nd-4th grade writing workshop.

[Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonathan London's Hurricane! is a wonderfully illustrated picture book on what i can imagine is his childhood experience during a hurricane in Puerto Rico. The story is pretty much him recalling the experience from the perspective of a child. It began just as any other day, with him playing with his brother, only for a hurricane to catch them and their community by surprise. The rest of the story is his family finding shelter and waiting out the storm, to coming back home to clean up and continue their lives.
This is a nice story that tells a child's perspective of being caught in a hurricane. It shows the boy's thoughts and feelings that go through him during the whole process and how quick he is to have everything go back to normal after the storm has passed. This would be a good story to use as a intro into talking about storms and natural disasters. It would also be a good way start conversations with children that have also been caught in storms or had to deal with natural disasters.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this book during the hurricane Irma the kids and I liked it

[Bethany Sutherland]

Hurricane! is a book about hurricanes. The book is told in the viewpoint of a little boy. It was a normal day and his brother and he went down to the beach to snorkel. When they came up for a breath, the sky had changed so they got out while their mother came for them yelling a hurricane is coming. They pack and hatch down belongings and drive to the shelter through winds and rain. They were in the shelter until the hurricane was over and drove back home. Their house was lucky to still be standing and they had to clean up the yard.

I liked how this book was told in the viewpoint of a little boy and not just facts on hurricanes.

I would put this book in my classroom library.

[Christopher Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations are beautiful and move the story from a fun afternoon to the terrifying experience of a hurricane. Told from a child's perspective, the scene of everyone together in the storm shelter brings a sense of togetherness despite the danger outside.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about the weather, something that really happens but the story is fiction. Scary story but something that we all have to be ready if we live in places that have Hurricanes. Something that I want my daughter to be ready for even if she is little.

[Cana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mommy says: Dramatic, scary, based on a true story. Cana loved it.

[Doris Herrmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice book to help illustrate our unit on changes, and it has a nice tie into our Galveston storm unit as well.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alissa was so glad that the boy found his dog, Triste, before the storm.

[Carolina Aldave]

Category: Picture Book.
Book that talks about a hurricane that takes place in puerto Rico. This book can be used in a unit about seasons. It teaches children what hurricanes look like and provides students with opportunities to discuss with students what steps need to be taken when hurricanes occur or how to best help countries that have experienced a hurricane.