Hurricane Hunters!: Riders on the Storm
PreSchool-Grade 2–The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (the Hurricane Hunters) flies out of Biloxi, MS, into the hearts of violent storms, compiling essential weather data that ultimately saves human lives. Demarest presents their exploits in an oversized, brightly illustrated format, twin to hisHotshots! (S & S, 2003). A brief, dynamic text follows a typical flight into a burgeoning tempest, beginning with a view of a tranquil beach and ending with a completed mission. The contrast between sunlit and storm-ravaged seas is clear, as are the heavy preparations on shore and the destructive force of the squall as it crosses land. The simple language is reinforced by the vigorous pastels, which open a window into the WC-130 Hercules and the activities of the crew. An extended author's note provides extra data. Team this crisp, exciting book with Franklyn Branley'sHurricane Watch(HarperCollins, 1985) and/or Rick Thomas'sEye of the Storm(Picture Window, 2005) for more meteorology, or pair it with Keith Elliot Greenberg's more demandingStorm Chaser(Blackbirch, 1997) for a personal look at a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) pilot and his experiences.–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.