TSUNAMI WARNING

“Shaking ground, an exposed sea floor, and a loud roar are natural warnings.” The tsunami is coming! With paintings more powerful than photographs, the author/illustrator eloquently captures the drama and danger of the tsunami, the giant waves that arise unexpectedly out of ocean earthquakes to pound coastal regions. Readers will remember the devastating Indonesian tsunami of 2004, but may be less familiar with the Hawaiian tsunami of 1946. Woven amid the tales of survivors are descriptions of the development of the first Seismic Sea Wave Warning System, and the role of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and the tsunami warning centers in Hawaii and Alaska. As with the author’s previous title, Wildfire (2006), a brief but challenging text and meticulous paintings are linked to tell the story. The pictures that show boiling waves, brooding skies and shattered towns will capture younger readers. Older readers will relish the text and come away with a greater appreciation for the scientists who struggle to understand natural disasters in order to keep people safe. (glossary, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 8-14)