Erased by a Tornado

Erased by a Tornado! effectively uses photographs to evoke raw emotion and explain the science of tornadoes. It begins with a first-person account from Mikias Mohammed, who lived through a tornado in Tennessee in 2008. The perspective gets broader as the location and formation of tornadoes is explained. A black and white photograph of Ted Fujita dominates the pages that describe the Fujita scale, used to measure tornadoes, and three photos from the deadliest tornado (Tri-state in 1925) follow. The book ends with photographs from communities rebuilding after tornadoes and tips for how to stay safe if a tornado strikes. Among the links that the publisher provides through its website is one to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for kids. First-hand accounts here provide follow-up content when students are learning about primary sources. Erased by a Tornado! is a National Science Teachers Association 2011 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12. It clearly deserves this designation.