LS 5603 Book Review: LIGHTNING

Informational Book
Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 1997. LIGHTNING. New York, NY: Scholastic. ISBN 0-590-12122-7

Plot Summary
Simon begins by telling us what the early Greeks, the Vikings and Native American tribes thought lightning was: Zeus, Thor and the mighty Thunderbird. Then Simon goes on to explain what lightning is, "a river of electricity rushing through an ocean of air". The author continues to give us interesting facts about lightning; for instance, temperatures in the path of a lightning bolt can be 50,000 degrees, there are three main kinds of lightning, and Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. Simon concludes with there are many things we still don't know about lightning.

Critical Analysis
Simon's book about lightning reads like a picture book with one short page of text accompanied by an illuminating picture of a lightning strike. This would make this a good transitional book for children who are not accustom to reading non-fiction. Simon gives credit for photos on the title page however, it would have been helpful to have the information on the same page as the picture. Having the photos titled would give children the idea that you can get information from the pictures and tables in a non-fiction book. Some pictures are labeled with the type of lightning that is represented however, extending these titles to every picture would enhance the experience.

Simon makes learning about a subject an enjoyable journey, adding information to what the reader already knows. Importantly, Simon does not talk down to the audience while at the same time using vocabulary appropriate to the subject. For example, "Two other recently discovered high-altitude kinds of lightning are called jets and sprites."

The pictures Simon chose to use with the text are completely enticing. Upon flipping through the pictures readers are drawn into the explanation of what the picture represents. Through Simon's choice of facts and pictures the reader is given a thorough understanding of lightning with an eagerness to learn more.

Review Excerpts
BOOKLIST: "The subject is exciting, the information is amazing, and the full-color photographs are riveting, each spectacular picture more exciting than the last."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Short, simple sentences make this topic accessible to younger readers but do not talk down to older report writers."

Connections
*Pair with other books by Seymour, Simon and do a unit on the weather: STORMS. ISBN 978-0688117085, WEATHER. ISBN 978-0060884390
*Have children go to http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html to find static electricity experiments.