Hurricane Watch

Gr 1–3—The life cycle of a hurricane and its potential effects on a community are presented in this engaging series entry. A family hears the news of an approaching tropical storm from a TV weather person and reviews a checklist of precautions and preparations. Satellites track the storm's progress, and planes fly into it to measure its strength. Scientists on the ground give the hurricanes separate names to keep track of them. Stewart succinctly explains how hurricanes form and develop. Scientific terms are used in sentences and defined in the text. The clear, full-color illustrations amplify scientific concepts, such as how warm ocean water evaporates and spirals up, thereby allowing cooler air to rush in, replace the rising warm air, and begin the rotation of a tropical storm. One of the activities in the "Find Out More About Hurricanes" section invites children to use string, scissors, paper, and a light bulb to explore how heat causes this spiraling.