CurriConnects Book List - Natural Disasters
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Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are a fascination for many students, but they can offer a new angle on many science and social studies topics, as well as current events. We can talk about WHY they happen and/or the results afterward: How did communities change? What did people do in response? This collection of books could accompany a unit on earth science, weather, or even communities and government as your students look at how disasters affect people and how individuals or governments respond to adversity. These books would also connect well to a character education or guidance unit about dealing with crisis. You could even include this list with a geography unit about differences in weather, climate, and landforms around the world. These books provide experience with both nonfiction informational texts and fiction that requires students to draw inferences about the “facts.” If having students read independently, you may want to pose a big question or two related to your curriculum for them to think about as they read. Have them return and share their answers after reading, perhaps as a presentation or small group project.
Preschool and Picture Books
Clifford and the Big Storm - Norman Bridwell, (978-0590257558), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 350
Clifford helps keep everyone safe during a hurricane.
Flood - Alvaro Villa, (978-1623700010), Fiction
Interest level: K-3
This wordless picture book shows the effects of a flood on a family and community, including both the tragic and touching aspects.
Kenta and the Big Wave - Ruth Ohi, (978-1554515776), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 560
Kenta's family has to leave their Japanese home in too big of a hurry for him to grab his floating soccer ball, but in the aftermath of the tsunami, another child rescues the ball and returns it to him.
Mama: A True Story in Which a Baby Hippo Loses His Mama during a Tsunami, But Finds a New Home and a New Mama - Jeanette Winter, (978-0152054953), Fiction
Interest level: K-3
A baby hippo loses his mother after a tsunami strikes and they are both left floating in this nearly wordless picture book.
Monsoon - Uma Krishnaswami, (978-0374350154), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
People in India eagerly await the clouds that signal the start of monsoon season after the land and city have become very dry.
Panda's Earthquake Escape - Phyllis Perry, (978-1607180715), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 580
Two wild pandas become lost after they run for the woods during an earthquake.
Storms - Miriam Goin, (978-1426303944), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-1, Lexile: 500
If you have questions about different kinds of weather and why it happens, this is the book for you!
Tsunami! - Kimiko Kajikawa, (978-0399250064), Fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 620
An older rice farmer sets a fire in his rice field to warn community members of an upcoming tsunami.
Yesterday We Had a Hurricane - Deirdre Mercier, (978-0975434253), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
A very young child describes her experiences with a hurricane; how it was on the inside of the house, what the damage was, and how her family coped are all covered.
Early Elementary Books
A Place Where Hurricanes Happen - Renee Watson, (978-0385376686), Fiction
Interest level: 1-4
Free verse in four different voices describes the friends' separation during Hurricane Katrina, its devastating effects, and their reunion.
Attack of the Giant Flood - Kathryn Lay, (978-1602707580), Fiction
Interest level: 2-3
Wendy frets about the dangers of a heavy rain in her community since it has been dry for so long.
Calvin Coconut: Hero of Hawaii - Graham Salisbury, (978-0385739627), Fiction
Interest level: 1-4, Lexile: 460
Calvin takes on the flooding river and aids with a rescue during a hurricane in Hawaii.
Drought - Nathan Olson, (978-0736861519), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-3
This book gives an elementary-level introduction to droughts and their impact.
Drought and People - Nikki Bundey, (978-1575054988), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4
Learn how extremely dry weather affects people from around the world; accompanying activities make learning fun and memorable (Science of Weather series).
Droughts - Anne Wendorff, (978-1600141843), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
This book explores the causes and effects of drought (Blastoff Readers series).
Earthquake in the Early Morning - Mary Pope Osborne, (978-0679890706), Fiction
Interest level: 3-4, Lexile: 350
Jack and Annie fly in their magic treehouse to the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
Flood Warning - Jacqueline Pearce, (978-1459800687), Fiction
Interest level: 2-4, Lexile: 590
Tom tries to emulate the Lone Ranger and save the cows on his farm when a flood threatens.
Gopher to the Rescue: A Volcano Recovery Story - Terry Jennings, (978-1607181316), Fiction
Interest level: K-4, Lexile: 740
Gopher bravely digs more tunnels after a volcano shakes the homes of many neighboring animals, and the animals appreciate the shade and safety of a new soft home.
Heat Waves and Droughts - Liza Burby, (978-0823952922), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4
This book explains the causes and effects of heat waves and droughts (Extreme Weather series).
Help, I'm in Hot Lava! - Geronimo Stilton, (978-0545642903), Fiction
Interest level: 2-3
Geronimo Stilton's new adventure to find help for his Grandmother's health problems leads him to geyser and volcano landscapes.
Hurricane Wolf - Diane Paterson, (978-0807534380), Fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 570
Noah helps his parents prepare for a hurricane and learns what to expect when it arrives.
Hurricanes! - Gail Gibbons, (978-0823422975), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-3
Learn about the terrific force hurricanes have, preparation in the event of a hurricane, and the devastating results it might have.
Lizzie Newton and the San Francisco Earthquake - Stephen Krensky, (978-0822590316), Fiction
Interest level: 3-3, Lexile: 410
Lizzie cannot find her parents after the San Francisco earthquake, and she roams around viewing the devastation caused by the phenomenon.
Meteor! - Patricia Polacco, (978-0698114104), Fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 870
This book, based on a true happening, shows how one small town's reaction to a meteor crash brings about magic and lots of gossipy talk about its residents.
Sinkholes - Megan Kopp, (978-1621279563), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-4
This book describes how sinkholes form and the ground collapses.
The San Franciso Earthquake: 1906 - Lauren Tarshis, (978-0545206990), Fiction
Interest level: 2-3, Lexile: 610
Leo is very familiar with the city of San Franciso since he sells newspapers there in 1906, but when the huge earthquake changes everything, he is on the scene recording the changes.
The Tsunami Quilt: Grandfather's Story - Anthony Fredericks, (978-1585363131), Fiction
Interest level: 1-4
Kimo does not learn why he and his now dead grandfather used to put a lei atop a monument until the older man is gone, but he finds the monument is a memorial to 24 children who died in the 1946 tsunami in Hawaii.
Tornado Alert - Franklyn Branley, (978-0064450942), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-3
This simple book describes how a funnel cloud forms and explains what to do in order to stay safe.
Tornadoes! - Gail Gibbons, (978-0823422746), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-3
The author explains tornado formation, the measurement scale, and how to stay safe with both words and pictures.
Twister Trouble - Anne Schreiber, (978-0439204194), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-3, Lexile: 520
Ms. Frizzle's class flies directly into a tornado and their lesson about such storms becomes very very real (Magic School Bus series).
Volcanoes! - Anne Schreiber, (978-1426302855), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4
This book describes how volcanoes form and what the results are when they erupt.
Weather - Penelope Arlon, (978-0545505161), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-5
This reference book about weather includes sections on weather disasters and extreme climatological conditions.
What if There Were No Bees? - Suzanne Slade, (978-1404863941), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4
Bees may seem very small but their pending loss will upset the balance of the entire ecosystem; this book shows the very important place bees play in the food chain.
Upper Elementary to Middle School Books
A, Bee, See - Kenneth Eade, (978-1492787433), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7
The text and illustrations in this book provide a beautiful introduction to the life of bees and the problems occurring that are preventing their flourishing.
Blizzard Disaster - Peg Kehret, (978-0671009625), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 730
Warren and Betsy time travel to 1940 because of their interest in the great Minnesota blizzard, but they find themselves victims of the storm when their time travel vehicle malfunctions.
Blizzards - Michael Woods, (978-0822568636), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
Read these fascinating accounts of the formation, characteristics, and results of a severe blizzard.
Bugged: How Insects Changed History - Sarah Albee, (978-0802734228), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
This history of science, health, and social history elucidates the role insects have in helping and harming humans.
Disasters - David Burnie, (978-0545479738), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-9
This book has a collection of primary source material about many types of natural disasters and includes a discussion of them and their impact on our environment.
Earthquake Escape - Jan Burchett, (978-1434245922), Fiction
Interest level: 4-8, Lexile: 580
Ben and Zoe get to go rescue a giant panda baby, lost after the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake in China.
Earthquakes - Michael Woods, (978-0822547112), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
This book goes into depth describing causes, effects, and results of theoretical and historical earthquakes.
Environmental Disasters - Michael Woods, (978-0822567745), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
This book explores the effects on the environment of oil spills, chemical leaks, and other environmental nightmares.
Eruption - Roland Smith, (978-0545081740), Fiction
Interest level: 5-8, Lexile: 590
Chase and Nicole help with rescuing escaped circus animals after a huge earthquake (Storm Runners series).
Escaping the Giant Wave - Peg Kehret, (978-0689852732), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 750
Kyle frantically tries to outrun a tsunami after a coastal earthquake, hoping to get his sister and himself to higher ground.
Fires - Michael Woods, (978-0822547136), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
Read about the deadly destructiveness of fires and also hear about some of history's worst fire events.
Flood Disaster - Peg Kehret, (978-1416991090), Fiction
Interest level: 4-6, Lexile: 780
Time travelers Warren and Betsy try to prevent the Johnstown Flood in 1889 when they become sympathetic with a man who lost everything after it occurred.
Floods - Michael Woods, (978-0822547129), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
Learn about the impact of a flood whether it be from too much rain, huge waves, water accidents, or other sources.
Hurricane - Terry Trueman, (978-0060000189), Fiction
Interest level: 2-12, Lexile: 730
A young boy relates his experience with a Caribbean hurricane.
Hurricanes - Michael Woods, (978-0822547105), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
Learn about hurricanes and how their occurrence has affected the towns and cities where they have happened.
Life as We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer, (978-0152061548), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 770
Miranda's family eagerly anticipates a predicted meteor, but its impact on the moon causes worldwide climatic changes and weather disasters.
Moomin and the Comet - Tove Jansson, (978-1770461222), Fiction
Interest level: 4-6
The beloved Moomins have to get away from their home after disastrous weather and an upcoming comet appears.
Mudflows and Landslides - Michael Woods, (978-0822565741), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
This book provides copious information about and illustrations of mudslides and landslides.
On the Other Side of the Hill - Roger MacBride, (978-0064405751), Fiction
Interest level: 4-6, Lexile: 860
Rose Wilder's family faces a series of natural and weather disasters on their Missouri homestead (Little House Books series).
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach - Brenda Woods, (978-0142421864), Fiction
Interest level: 3-12, Lexile: 660
Saint escapes from the evacuation center to search for his lost dog in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Sinkholes - Sandra Friend, (978-1561642588), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8, Lexile: 1150
This book describes how sinkholes form and the ground collapses.
The Legend of Zoey - Candie Moonshower, (978-0440239246), Fiction
Interest level: 4-7, Lexile: 650
Zoey time travels from modern times back to visit Prudence in 1811 when the New Madrid earthquake occurred.
Tsunamis - Michael Woods, (978-0822566809), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
This book contains lots of interesting information about the formation and destructiveness of tsunamis as well as giving details about countries prone to tsunamis and how others might help affected victims.
Volcano Disaster - Peg Kehret, (978-0671009687), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 770
Warren and Betsy go back in time to experience the Mt. St. Helen's eruption because their special time travel computer malfunctions while they are working on a science project.
Volcanoes - Michael Woods, (978-0822547150), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-6
View the photos, charts, and other graphs that make the formation, eruption, and devastation of a volcano very real.
Wildfire Run - Dee Garretson, (978-0061953507), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 690
The President's son is thrown into survival mode when a faraway earthquake and a fire trap him and his friends at Camp David.
Middle Grade Books
Quake!: Disaster in San Francisco, 1906 - Gail Karwoski, (978-1561453108), Fiction
Interest level: 4-7, Lexile: 770
This historical fiction novel recounts the 1906 San Francisco earthquake from the perspective of a Jewish teenager.
Middle School to Young Adult Books
Ashfall - Mike Mullin, (978-1933718743), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 750
After a supervolcano erupts in Yellowstone, Alex and his family find their world totally changed both geographically and socially.
Flood - James Heneghan, (978-0374350574), Fiction
Interest level: 4-12
Andy's life makes an about face when his mother and stepfather die in the aftermath of a flood.
Monument 14 - Emmy Laybourne, (978-1250027382), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 590
Teen friends band together in a huge store, trying to protect themselves from worldwide disasters including a hailstorm.
Slow Burn - Renee Jacobs, (978-0271036816), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This photo essay describes the coal mining town of Centralia, Pennsylvania and how it turned into a ghost town overnight when the mine started burning and why the fire continues.
The Battle Against Invasive Species - Sneed Collard, (978-0618756360), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-9, Lexile: 1110
This book explains how scientists are developing techniques to control and lessen the environmental impact of invasive species.
The Dead and the Gone - Susan Beth Pfeffer, (978-0547258553), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12
After an asteroid hits the moon, Alex' life is forever changed; he has the responsibility of caring for his two sisters and also finding a way to live in a decimated New York City.
Three Rivers Rising - Jame Richards, (375-858857), Fiction
Interest level: 7-9, Lexile: 780
This love story plays out against the backdrop of the Johnsonstown flood of 1889.
Young Adult Books (ages 12-18; Grades 7 and up)
The Worst Hard Time - Timothy Egan, (978-0618773473), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This historical book describes 12 families and the effects living through the Dust Bowl years had on their future lives; their horrors included experiencing black dust blizzards, crop fails, and deaths.
Books for Mature Teens and Adults
Solar Flare Survival - Marc Remillard, (978-1466421394), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-12
This book explains how solar activity is intensifying and how it might affect life on the earth.
Fire Undergrond: The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire - David DeKok, (978-0762754274), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Find out how the coal mining town of Centralia, Pennsylvania turned into a ghost town overnight when the mine started burning, and learn why the fire continues.
Haboob - Leslie LeRoux, (978-3868283457), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This photographic essay examines the city of Phoenix and shows how its uncontrolled growth and the Arizona sandstorms or haboob have engulfed the small towns and the normal desert habitat.
Invasive Species - Daniel Simberloff, (978-0199922031), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Scientists team with policy makers in this book to examine the problem of invasive species, evaluate their damage, and attempt to control them.
Khamsin: The Devil Wind of the Nile - Inge Borg, (978-1481041959), Fiction
Interest level: 10-12
This romance for mature readers recreates a court setting in 3080 BC that features love, murder, war, and backstabbing, all against the backdrop of the khamsin.
Mt. St. Helens: The Eruption and Recovery of a Volcano - Rob Carson, (978-1570612480), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
The author describes events leading up to this gigantic eruption and also details how the mountain recovered in its new form.
Solar Flares: What You Need to Know - Whitley Strieber, (978-1101616338), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-12
Learn how the massive electrical grids many nations are using are in danger of interacting with solar flares and destroying life on earth as we know it.
The Avalanche Handbook - Mountaineers Books, (978-0898868098), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-12
Learn how to recognize an upcoming avalanche and how to stay alive if you experience one.
The Deluge - Mark Morris, (978-1477807200), Fiction
Interest level: 10-12
This novel for mature teens depicts a world after an incapacitating flood has covered everything
The Johnstown Flood - David McCullough, (978-0671207144), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Famed historian David McCullough examines the causes and effects of the preventable Johnstown flood of 1889.
The West Without Water - B. Lynn Ingram, (978-0520268555), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This text explores the history of the climate changes in the Western part of the U.S. and its impact on extreme weather.