Review
This week's book is about natural disasters, hurricanes to be specific.
Kenny and his sister Allison are growing up in New Orleans back in the 1960's. Their favorite way to spend the day is up in their tree house they built together. Then along comes hurricane Betsy and not only destroys people's homes, but also takes down the mighty oak tree where their tree house is. But keep reading because there is a happy ending.
;This story not only teaches about how to deal with loss but also how to rebuild. Rachelle's personal experience of living through a devastating hurricane is felt through the lives of her characters Kenny and Allison. She shows you what life is like, before and after the storm.
Rex Schneider did a wonderful job illustrating this story. His illustrations give you the feel of the 60's and show how magnificent a child's imagination can be.
So, how has Rachelle taken this book beyond reading? She has many activity pages such as coloring pages, crossword puzzle, a maze and a teacher s guide to name a few. Her teacher's guide is a great way for a teacher or parent to help children understand natural disasters in a fun way how to handle them --Joy Delgado, Books Go Beyond Reading blog. August 17, 2009
Kenny loved climbing trees, and as soon as he was big enough, he built himself a tree house in a big oak tree in the backyard. He and his sister spent afternoons enjoying childhood until one day, they were confronted with a monster - a monster of a storm. Hurricane Betsy hit their neighborhood in New Orleans, leaving some neighbors without a home to return to. Kenny discovers that his tree house did not survive the storm, but realizes also how lucky his family was. And, he has a long range plan. Planting an acorn from the oak tree, he knows that one day a large oak will stand in the backyard, and he can create a new treehouse for his own children. A nice gentle story that touches on childhood memories, and on surviving a natural disaster. -JK --Kidsville, October 2009
About the Author
Rachelle Burk juggles careers as a social worker, childrens entertainer, freelance writer, and rescue squad volunteer. Her inspiration for Tree House in a Storm came from her experiences growing up in New Orleans. She now lives with her husband and daughters in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
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