Disasters - by Brenda Z Guiberson (Paperback)

About the Book

In these riveting chapters about well-known disasters, such as the Great Chicago Fire, the sinking of the Titanic, and Hurricane Katrina, Brenda Guiberson explores the cause and effect as well as the local and global reverberations. Highlighted with photographs and drawings, each compelling account tells the story of destruction and the power of mankind to persevere in the face of adversity.

Book Synopsis

Natural and man-made disasters have the power to destroy thousands of lives very quickly. Both as they unfold and in the aftermath, these forces of nature astonish the rest of the world with their incredible devastation and magnitude. In this collection of ten well-known catastrophes such as the great Chicago fire, the sinking of the Titanic, and Hurricane Katrina, Brenda Guiberson explores the causes and effects, as well as the local and global reverberations of these calamitous events. Highlighted with photographs and drawings, each compelling account tells the story of destruction and devastation, and most especially, the power of mankind to persevere in the face of adversity.

Review Quotes

"The short text features enough variety and drama to keep readers engaged. This is a worthy introduction to a topic with perennial interest, especially since the species has become vulnerable." --Booklist on Ice Bears

"Guiberson uses precise verbs and onomatopoeia to paint a picture of the daily activities of the bears while gracefully weaving in facts about their weight, diet, and climate." --School Library Journal on Ice Bears

"Guiberson [is] one of the best science writers around for young readers." --Kirkus Reviews on Rain, Rain, Rainforest

About the Author

Brenda Z. Guiberson has written many books for children, including Cactus Hotel, Spoonbill Swamp, and Moon Bear. As a child, Brenda never thought she wanted to be a writer--her dreams tended more toward jungle explorer. She graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in English and Fine Art. She started thinking about writing for children when her son went to elementary school, and she volunteered in his class and in the school library. After taking exciting trips that involved a fifty-foot cactus, hungry alligators and sunset-colored spoonbills, she wanted to create books for children that would be like a field trip. Her books are full of well-researched detail, and Brenda sees this research as an adventure--one that allows her to be a jungle explorer at last. She lives in Seattle, Washington.