Lightning

by Seymour Simon

Lightning strikes the earth more than a hundred times every second. It's bright and dramatic, but it happens so fast that we rarely get a chance to see it. Now celebrated children's science writer Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution give you an opportunity to take a closer look at lightning. Newly updated, and boasting vivid photographs and Simons classic writing, this brand-new edition of a science favorite provides clear explanations of what causes those bright flashes of light in a stormy sky.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 14, 1997

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

[Saad Sekkat]

Saad Sekkat
Mrs. Slaoui
Sunday, February 8, 2015


Science Goodreads


Each second of every day, more than hundreds and thousands of lightning bolts strike the earth. Every region has a myth about a god of weather that would control the weather, thunder, and lightning. For the Greeks, they thought that Zeus flung thunderbolts from stormy skies. Nevertheless, the Viking thought that their god, Thor, strike a powerful hammer against an anvil to produce thunder and lightning. On the other hand, Native American tribes believed that lightning was caused by the flashing feathers and flapping wings of the mighty Thunderbird. However, we all know that lightning is a river of electricity rushing through an ocean of air. “Lightning bolts travel at “lightning” speeds of up to sixty thousand times faster than our fastest spaceship. A single lighting bolt travels through twisted paths in the air about as wide as one of your fingers and from six to then miles long.” (Simon, 6) It starts with violently moving ice crystals and raindrops in storm clouds. With our naked eyes, we see the lightning going down from the clouds but, we truly see the return of electricity zooming upward from the ground. Hence, when a lightning bolt strikes, the electrical energy quickly changes into heat. Consequently, temperatures in the path of a lightning bolt can reach as high as fifty thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, there are three main kinds of lightning. Intracloud lightning is the most common, Cloud-to-ground lightning is the most dangerous form, and finally inter cloud lightning.Thus, the 3 facts i found interesting are that electricity in a bolt would power one lightbulb for only a month. Also, lightning can be made in a laboratory by an instrument called a Van de Graaff static electricity generator. Consequently, in the summer of 1995, scientists discovered a new kind of lightning, which they named elves.
The content in my book could relate to a career in science because it talks about lightning and the earth. Geophysicist, Atmospheric Scientist, and Meteorologist all relate to the study of lightning. Geophysicist is someone who studies the Earth using gravity, magnetic, electrical, and seismic methods. Furthermore, an Atmospheric Scientist is the study of the physics and chemistry of gases, clouds, and aerosols that surround the planetary bodies of the solar system. Nevertheless, Meteorologist is the study of the atmosphere. These three types of studies relate to lightning and the clouds because some study the clouds in the earth. Others study the electrical and seismic methods. On the other hand, some scientists study the atmosphere. Lightning falls under the branch of science, earth. It falls under this branch because lightning is natural and it is in the earth. Also, it is not alive, not in space, or neither it is physical. In the past I have learned about lightning, clouds, thunder, wind, etc. I learned that when water evaporates, it goes in the clouds. As I said, I have already learned about lightning so, this book relates to what I have already done in class. To conclude, lightning is very powerful and dangerous.
I would recommend this book to high school students who would like to know more about the earth. On the other hand, middle school students could be able to read this book unless they are not interested. This book is very educational and gives fantastic facts about lightning and about the people who study it and discovered it. As I said earlier, I didn’t know that lightning can be made in a laboratory by an instrument called a Van de Graaff static electricity generator. Thus, I recommend this book to 8th and 9th schoolers.

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about the types of lightening, how lightning is formed and what to do to protect yourself from lightning. It talks about the weather changes from lightning and how lightning begins.

Lesson- use this book as an introduction to a weather unit. Talk about storms and what happens when lightning strikes.

[Andrea Bragdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about the facts of lightning. I had a first grader who was very afraid of lightning, me too. Together we read the book to learn about it. I also reminded him that it is pretty rare for him to get struck by lightning. We talked about what we should do during a storm and he wrote a social story. We also read "Storms".

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice resource for my weather unit!

Q2021 book.

[Jessica Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Lightning
Author/Illustrator: Seymour Simon
Genre: Photographic Essay
Theme(s): Weather (Thunder and Lightning)
Opening line/sentence: Every second of every day more than a hundred lightning bolts strike the earth.
Brief Book Summary: Lightning, a powerful force of nature, is explained in this book in many ways. The pictures provide vivid accounts of bolts of lightning from across the world. Ben Franklin’s kite experiment is explained, electrical energy is outlined, and more. The book also serves as a guide for what to do if you are caught outside in a lightning storm.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
School Library Journal
The stunning, vibrantly colored photographs help to explain the text, illustrating points such as the differences between the three kinds of lightning. Short, simple sentences make this topic accessible to younger readers but do not talk down to older report writers. Simon emphasizes precautions about lightning (for example, "If you are in water, get out as soon as possible"). He also lists safe places to be if you are caught out in the open during a lightning storm. Libraries that own Stephen Kramer's Lightning (Carolrhoda, 1992) or Jonathan Kahl's Thunderbolt (Lerner, 1993) may not need an additional title covering similar material, but the outstanding photos make Simon's book a striking selection.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
The Horn Book Guide Online
(3) K-3 series. Simon provides perhaps one of the most complete collections of images of natural lightning phenomena, including groundstrikes, intracloud lightning, and the two recently discovered and elusive types of lightning known as jets and sprites. The matter-of-fact text adequately explains the physical processes associated with each type of lightning. As usual, the full-page photos are colorful and fascinating.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: The two reviews touch on the book’s vivid and beautiful pictures of lightning strikes. In the first review, the reviewer uses quotes from the book, which helps understand the book’s ability to serve as a caution guide for lightning. The review also mentioned that the simple sentences are easily understood by young children, which is important because the topic of how lightning works is fairly complicated. In the second review, the reviewer touches upon Simon’s use of images. The photos used in the book are supported by the text and show the reader some unusual forms of lightning that they may have not seen before in person.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book’s use of photographs allow readers of all abilities to connect with the text. If they are listening to this book being read aloud, they can follow along by viewing the photos on each page. The photos are specifically chosen and relate directly to the text on the adjoining page, which adds to the book’s readability. The style of the book is informational and includes facts and accounts of lightning in a non-list format. Since the book is not in list format, the book is easily read from left to right, which may be considered easier for younger readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application: With the aid of this book, students can create their own electricity experiment like Benjamin Franklin. After the author mentions Franklin’s experiment with lightning, he goes on to explain how you can do this experiment, but in a much safer environment. On a dry day, the students will drag their shoes along a carpet and then touch a piece of metal and watch for the spark. This activity could be used to introduce a unit on weather.

[Charlotte Ruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book Lightning by Seymour Simon informs people about the basics and more of lightning. The book teaches people what lighting is and the different types. Lighting begins when ice crystals and raindrops move violently during a storm. While this is happening electric charges build up in the cloud and an opposite electric charge builds up in the ground under the cloud. Little streamers of sparks called stepped leaders begin to shoot downwards, Streamers form the ground shoot up and when they meet a lighting bolt is formed. There are many types of lighting bolt existing, scientist maybe believe that there is lighting in other planets and types that aren't even know yet. While there are many different types of lighting, there are three main ones are Intracloud lightning, is the most common and occurs when lightning arcs between opposite charged centers, Cloud-to-ground light, the most dangerous one, and Intercloud lightning is when lighting leaps across a gap of clear air between to different clouds. In 1995 a new lightning was discovered named elves, short flashes hat blaze forth high above clouds. There are two the types of lightning called jets and sprites. Jets are fast moving fountains or sprays of blue light that burst upwards from storm clouds. Through out the book there are interesting facts about lighting, such as lightning can be made in laboratory with an instrument called a Van de Graaff static electricity generator, lighting travels at an extremely fast speed of sixty-thousand miler per second, and the temperature of lightning bolt can be as high fifty-thousand degrees Fahrenheit, this is five times hotter than the surface of the sun. To conclude, there are various interesting facts about lightning and many that scientists do not yet know.

The book Lightning is nonfiction for varied reasons, it could have also been given another title, and there is a photograph that I prefer to all the others. I know that this is a nonfiction book because there are facts, it has many facts, and the main idea is about lightning, which is not created. Another title that could be given to this book is The Mysteries of the Sky is what I would call this book. The Mysteries of the Sky is a better book title because it is more interesting than the title Lightning because it draws attention on what the book is about and if a person has to choose between lightning and The Mysteries of the Sky a person would choose The Mysteries of the Sky because it is more appealing. Out of all the beautiful photographs, this is the one that I preferred the most it was the one on page 18, because I really like the colors and it really helps explain the information. To conclude, this nonfiction book has many beautiful pictures explaining the information.

There were numerous parts of the book that made this book good, but very few negative parts that are disliked. What I enjoyed was the images that made it more pleasing and easier to understand as well as the cool facts and how they showed examples making easier a to understand. The few parts that I disliked were that some parts were explained in a confusing way, which confused me. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about new things people who enjoy science and lightning.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells alot about lightning and where it comes from. I thought it was okay but wouldn't like to read it again. If your a person who loves lightning then i highly recommend this book!! It tells where lighting comes from, ALL about lightning storms, how strong they can get, anything you want to know about lightning is in this book.

If you like storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, anything that has lightning in it you will love this book. It is so informative about everything you can think of it's in here. It was I think a little boring up first but then i actually started getting into the book and I thought it was a little better.

Like I said, if you like lightning then you will LOVE this book. It is the one for you. But if you don't really like anything to do with it then i wouldn't think this is the right book for you.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lighting is very powerful and very misunderstood. There is plenty of researching going on to try to figure out why lighting happens and its powers. This book provides great information along with outstanding photos and a child would be mesmerized by them wanting to know more. I have loved weather ever since I was a little kid. Now lighting doesn't scare me but I know it could to some children, so maybe learning about it would help a child to not fear it but respect that it is out of our control.

[XimenaM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lightning is a very interesting book so you should read it. I would recommend this book to those who like to read non-fiction and like to learn new thing about nature. This book taught some cool things abut lightning and how to be safe when there is lightning.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lightning is a good children's resource about the power of electricity

[Mas5thgrade2012 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i thought that there was only one color of lightning but it turns out thart the lightning can be any color blue, red, purple etc.

[Guen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photographs are great. Great information on lightning experiments. Overall, not the most informative book on lightning.

[Nikki]

IL: LG
BL: 6.5


This would be a great book to add in a science class to help teach lightning. Also I would recommend to a student who is interested in weather.