Sejal Sinha battles superstorms

Indian American Sejal, a science-loving, imaginative eight-year-old, investigates extreme weather in this early chapter book. When a hurricane warning throws a damper on Diwali celebrations, Sejal, Mira (her cousin), Abu (her little brother), and Professor Cheetah (her erudite stuffed animal) embark on a meteorological adventure. A big empty cardboard box, with the addition of some stickers and marker drawings, undergoes a Magic School Bus--like transformation into an aircraft dubbed SS Cheetah. Sejal's delightfully curious and determined first-person narration charts the course of this special mission as the crew flies into the eye of the storm and learns about the forces of nature along the way. Solid science reporting is delivered throughout the text by hurricane-hunter mentors and a scientist. Weather terminology (e.g. superstorms, eyewall) as well as details about Diwali traditions (like rangoli and sparklers) are explained conversationally. The kids come up with a very cool idea to thwart "Hurricane Ruin-Everything." An author's note provides more scientific details. The future looks sunny for this fun and informative STEM chapter-book series opener.

When a hurricane threatens to ruin Diwali, teamwork--and a little bit of magic--is all a young Indian girl needs to save the day. It's Diwali, and Sejal, 8, can't wait to draw rangoli, light sparklers, and devour a traditional Indian feast with her family, including her younger brother, Abu, her older cousin Mira, and her dog, Fluff Monster. But then a hurricane threatens to put a damper on the festivities. Determined to save the day, Sejal gathers up Professor Cheetah, her "best stuffie friend," and hops into her cardboard box, which, with a little bit of magic, transforms into a "hurricane-hunting aircraft." She's soon joined by a frantic Abu, an enthusiastic Fluff Monster, and a reluctant Mira, who no longer believes in cardboard-box magic. It isn't until the team meets a group of scientists in the center of the storm that Mira admits that magic is just as real as science--and that some jobs require a degree of imagination that only children possess. Prasad layers the narrative with internal and external conflicts, investing just as much importance in Sejal's determination to salvage her relationship with her cousin as she does in the children's mission to save Diwali. At its best, Sejal's narratorial voice crackles with intelligence and perseverance; at times, however, the language is a bit clunky. Overall, though, the book is a well-plotted, entertaining story about science, tradition, creative thinking, and growing up. An absorbing read that balances lessons about friendship and science. (Fiction. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Chapter One: Professor Cheetah and the Moon Mission CHAPTER ONE Professor Cheetah and the Moon Mission Cardboard boxes have a lot of magic that grown-ups just don't get. They can turn into anything and take you anywhere. Need a submarine to go to the bottom of the sea? Need a machine to dig to the center of the earth? Need a train to take you deep into a mine filled with crystals? A cardboard box can do the job. "Another successful mission!" I said as we landed back on the shaggy rug in my family's basement. "Excellent work! I can't wait to examine my moon samples," Professor Cheetah said, giving me a high five. She was the smartest of all my stuffed animals--and my best stuffie friend. She'd been my copilot on our cardboard box trip to the moon, and now she hopped out of the box and took the samples to her laboratory (also known as the toy shelf). Just then I heard the doorbell ring upstairs. As she always did, my puppy started barking super ferociously. You couldn't tell she weighed only five pounds, because she sounded way bigger. "Oof!" said Professor Cheetah. "Does Fluff Monster need to be so loud? I'm trying to concentrate!" Professor Cheetah took science very seriously. I liked learning how things worked, but mostly went on the missions for the adventure. Right now, though, I was excited to be back home. Because today was Diwali! My favorite Indian holiday, all about light winning over darkness. We dress up in fancy clothes and make pretty designs with colored sand out on the porch. We light up the house with candles, play with sparklers in the backyard, and eat a huge yummy feast. With plenty of sweets for dessert, too. Plus, my aunt, uncle, and cousin Mira were coming to celebrate with us. I couldn't wait! Just one problem. I hadn't cleaned up the basement even though Mom had told me to. Oops. I started picking up the pieces of my little brother Abu's train set since he was "helping" Dad with dinner. Which probably meant making dinosaur sculptures with poori dough. That sounded more fun than cleaning, but when I had complained, Mom had given me that squinty look she got when she was annoyed. The one that meant she might give me some math problems to do. Mom loved assigning extra homework. She thought our teachers didn't give enough. I hadn't gotten much picked up before the basement door opened. My cousin Mira came down the steps, my cookies-and-cream-colored pup following excitedly behind her. "Hi, Sejal," Mira said. "Hi, Mira!" I dropped the train track piece I was holding and ran to give her a hug. She hugged me back, but then peeked over at my spaceship. "Don't tell me you're still playing with cardboard boxes!" Excerpted from Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms by Maya Prasad All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.