GREEN CITY

After a severe storm called a supercell destroyed the community of Greensburg, Kansas, residents banded together to rebuild in ways that would be sustainable and storm-proof.

The Greensburg GreenTown project is described here in the voice of an imagined, unnamed child whose experience mirrors that of many residents who survived the tornado of 2007 and participated in the post-storm reconstruction. Drummond's words and loosely drawn pen-and-watercolor–wash illustrations tell the story in a straightforward fashion. He begins even before the title page with striking images of the destructive power of the storm and goes on with a nice interplay of words and pictures through the difficulties of cleanup and relocation, the coming together of the community, and the reconstruction. He shows real buildings: homes and commercial establishments, a water tower and wind farm, the Big Well Museum, and, most importantly, the Kiowa County School. Without being too technical, he weaves in solid information about energy efficiency and sustainability. Sidebars add information about Greensburg's decision to go green and about building sustainable homes and the school. A final note connects the town's disaster to a fire in the author’s own home, and he concludes with sensible "tips for going green" appropriate for his intended readers.

Designed to be a companion to the author/illustrator’s Energy Island (2011), this will be equally welcomed in school and public libraries.