Plane Crash

Gr 4–7—This series gives overviews of major disasters, both natural and man-made, occurring within the last 150 years, including the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster of 2011. Both the writing and the images convey a sense of urgency and immediacy. Numerous color photographs show the devastation caused by the varying catastrophes. Each disaster is briefly chronicled (location, history, dates, impact, etc.), and any lessons learned about safety or prevention are summarized. Some of the disasters have "At-a-Glance" text boxes that contain related information. Despite a typo and a glaring error (Plane Crash states, "Osama bin Laden has never been caught."), the narratives are clear. This series contains enough basic information for reports, and its eye-catching design will appeal to browsers and reluctant readers.