SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

May 17, 2010 by Travis Jonker

Nonfiction Monday: Disasters by Brenda Z. Guiberson

May 17, 2010 by Travis Jonker   4 comments

Disasters: Natural and Man-Made Catastrophes Through the Centuries
By Brenda Z. Guiberson
Henry Holt
ISBN: 978085081701
$18.99
Grades 5 and up
In Stores
June 8, 2010

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

In an effort to appeal to a wide range of readers, nonfiction for youngsters often ignores depth for breadth. The results are books that make dandy casual reading (nothing wrong with that), but don’t deliver much in the way of details to aid youngsters who are really looking to get down to the nitty-gritty. Disasters helps to balance the scales. 10 chapters, 10 calamities, presented with particulars that provide insight and humanity.

The sinking of the Titanic. The Great Chicago Fire. The Johnstown Flood. How well do you know these events? I thought I had a handle on them, but it quickly became clear that I had a lot to learn. As is often the case with historical events, the causes and effects have been simplified over the years. Over the course of 10 chapters, Guiberson counteracts this, bringing each event to life with a keen eye for what readers should know. Related information is often brought into the fold, such as Andrew Carnegie’s association with the Johnstown flood. Guiberson handles the chapters on disease well. The science and effects of  smallpox and influenza are described in a way that is easy to understand. Also welcome is the inclusion of the 2004 Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. A bibliography provides resources for further discovery.

The writing is always straightforward, helping clarify the information. The potential of Disasters will be fully realized in a classroom setting and for kids who aren’t satisfied skimming the surface.

So let’s get specific, Disasters is a valuable student research resource and a worthwhile addition to your nonfiction collection.

Review copy from publisher.

Click here to check out the Nonfiction Monday roundup at Rasco from RIF.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

And don’t forget – next May 24th is Nontraditional Nonfiction Monday here at 100 Scope Notes. Allow this video to explain:

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

December 2022

9 Books I Loved (But Didn't Review) in 2022

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

Books on Film: I Need a New Butt!

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

Behind the Scenes Q&A: Skater Baby by Jack Noel

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

2022 Books from Caldecott Winners

by Travis Jonker

February 2022

Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#35)

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#181)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day: The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Monkey Prince Vol. 1: Enter the Monkey | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Readers’ Poll Results

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

The Value of Innocence for BIPOC Students, a guest post by David Mura

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Looking Ahead: Our 2023 Preview

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Four Breezy YA Summer Reads for Fans of 'Along for the Ride' on Netflix | Read-Alikes

Sports-Forward Books for Fans of the Movie "Space Jam: A New Legacy" | Read-Alikes

Three Action-Packed Adventures for Fans of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'

Four YA Romances for Teens Watching 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'

Four Magical Middle Grade Novels for 'Encanto' Fans| Read-Alikes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelf-employed says

    May 18, 2010 at 4:40 pm

    Disasters sounds great – a sure kid pleaser. I guess I’ll have to wait until it comes out, unless I can find a copy at BEA. As for next Monday – a week’s not much time, but you’ve got me thinking!

  2. Rasco from RIF says

    May 19, 2010 at 12:00 am

    Thanks so much for joining Nonfiction Monday this week; I look forward to next week’s video version!

Trackbacks

  1. Rasco From RIF » It’s NONFICTION MONDAY! says:
    May 17, 2010 at 6:34 am

    […] Scope Notes reviews a great book for enticing older elementary youngsters to nonfiction:  Disasters by Brenda Z. Guiberson.  This certaily appears to be a great book for discussion starters […]

  2. Disasters by Brenda Z. Guiberson says:
    May 19, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    […] Via 100scopenotes. com […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023