An excellent reader or reference book for the young scholar, Tsunami features full-color historical photographs and descriptive diagrams to help readers understand a great disaster. Written as a first-person account, the book draws the reader into the events of December 26, 2004. The developing story moves from the initial wall of water to recovery, with science interspersed. The narration doesn't shy away from the death and destruction, thus developing compassion and understanding. The discussion of the global nature of the disaster and the humanitarian efforts make this a good book to integrate social studies and science. Most double pages include a large photo or graphic to reinforce independent informational reading. Each vocabulary builder word is defined at the bottom of the page. The ending of the book provides an epilogue, a "what to do" scenario, a glossary, a bibliography, and addresses and URLs.

With the recent hurricane disasters in the United States, students want to understand natural disasters. Not only is this book well-designed, well-written, and timely, it is also thorough. In the classroom, the book will help students understand the science, learn about a world perspective, become familiar with major geographic areas, and have guidance in further research. In the home, this book could be easily shared and discussed within one's circle of family and friends. It will open doors to world travel as a source of shared experience between the student and other persons in the home. This is truly a book worth having in the school library, classroom, or even in the home.