The children's blizzard of 1888 A cause-and-effect investigation

Gr 4-6-Human error can turn already dangerous situations and natural disasters into catastrophic events. Each book summarizes the topic incident from beginning to end and explains how public reaction triggered changes, such as stricter building codes after the Great Chicago Fire and a new federal weather bureau after the Blizzard of 1888. Concluding summary spreads use arrows to link together causes and effects for the disasters. Text averages about three long paragraphs per page, which allows for adequate background and detail without being too gratuitous, gory, or sensational. A major strength is the combination of large photos and high-quality maps, graphs, and charts that depict the magnitude of the disasters. There is no shortage of coverage about most of these topics, but the well-done narratives and images will help students understand the impact of each disaster on history. VERDICT A strong choice for pleasure reading and report writing. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Five disastrous events in American history are explored from a cause-and-effect perspective. Each volume includes four succinct chapters, first establishing setting before relating the major events and their aftermath/results (e.g., the Chicago Fire and 1888 Blizzard precipitated future building codes and public warning systems). Numerous photographs/illustrations, diagrams, sidebars, and a clear appended flow chart round out the presentations. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers the following Cause-and-Effect Disasters titles: The Jamestown Colony Disaster, Death in the Donner Party, Hurricane Katrina and the Flooding of New Orleans, The Great Chicago Fire, and The Children's Blizzard of 1888.] (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.