Green City: How One Community Survived a Tornado and Rebuilt for a Sustainable Future

by Allan Drummond

Overview

In 2007, a tornado destroyed Greensburg, Kansas, and the residents were at a loss as to what to do next--they didn't want to rebuild if their small town would just be destroyed in another storm. So they decided they wouldn't just rebuild the same old thing; this time, they would build a town that could not only survive another storm, but one that was built in an environmentally sustainable way. Told from the point of view of a child whose family rebuilt after the storm, this companion to Energy Island is the inspiring story of the difference one community can make--and it includes plenty of rebuilding scenes and details for construction lovers, too!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374379995
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	03/15/2016
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	352,481
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	770L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Author/illustrator Allan Drummond studied at the Royal College of Art. His many books include Energy Island. He previously worked as the Chair of Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He lives in Suffolk, England.

Editorial Reviews

“The narrator, a boy in a red T-shirt, jeans, and a green baseball cap, tells the story in an engaging, accessible voice . . . Drummond’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations bustle with detail and activity. Some are full spreads, many are horizontal or vertical panels. An author’s note explains that while Drummond was working on this book, a fire devastated his home, causing him and his family to suddenly face the same challenges as the denizens of Greensburg. Happily, they now live in ‘a house built for the future.’ An inspiring read-aloud for units on natural disasters or for Earth Day.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Smartly laid out with both vertical and horizontal frames that contain small amounts of text, the book allows beginning readers to process the steps in planning and execution while giving them plenty of visual clues for potentially unfamiliar vocabulary. Watercolor illustrations—a vibrant blend of vignettes, full-page art, and double- page spreads—showing the clean-up, planning, and construction reflect the can- do attitude of Greensburg . . . This book is a triumph of both community action and scientific writing.” —The Horn Book, starred review

“Without being too technical, [Drummond] weaves in solid information about energy efficiency and sustainability . . . Designed to be a companion to the author/illustrator’s Energy Island, this will be equally welcomed in school and public libraries.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2016
Gr 1–5—On May 4, 2007, a treacherous tornado destroyed Greensburg, KS, "in nine-minutes flat." Eleven people died; the school, "hospital, nine churches, the water tower, the drugstore with its soda fountain, the grocery store, the two hotels, the three banks, the theater, and everything else—just gone." President George W. Bush declared Greensburg a national disaster area, and volunteers and donations arrived from all over. The inhabitants decided to rebuild: to make a tornado-proof town and to make it green. They designed models of homes with rounded walls, wood-paneled geodesic domes, and super-insulation. While many chose to relocate, the 800 residents who stayed are now proud to live in "America's Green City." The narrator, a boy in a red T-shirt, jeans, and a green baseball cap, tells the story in an engaging, accessible voice. Speech bubbles add drama and other townspeople's points of view; three denser sidebars provide more information. Drummond's ink-and-watercolor illustrations bustle with detail and activity. Some are full spreads, many are horizontal or vertical panels. An author's note explains that while Drummond was working on this book, a fire devastated his home, causing him and his family to suddenly face the same challenges as the denizens of Greensburg. Happily, they now live in "a house built for the future." VERDICT An inspiring read-aloud for units on natural disasters or for Earth Day.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

School Library Journal

2016-01-09
After a severe storm called a supercell destroyed the community of Greensburg, Kansas, residents banded together to rebuild in ways that would be sustainable and storm-proof. The Greensburg GreenTown project is described here in the voice of an imagined, unnamed child whose experience mirrors that of many residents who survived the tornado of 2007 and participated in the post-storm reconstruction. Drummond's words and loosely drawn pen-and-watercolor-wash illustrations tell the story in a straightforward fashion. He begins even before the title page with striking images of the destructive power of the storm and goes on with a nice interplay of words and pictures through the difficulties of cleanup and relocation, the coming together of the community, and the reconstruction. He shows real buildings: homes and commercial establishments, a water tower and wind farm, the Big Well Museum, and, most importantly, the Kiowa County School. Without being too technical, he weaves in solid information about energy efficiency and sustainability. Sidebars add information about Greensburg's decision to go green and about building sustainable homes and the school. A final note connects the town's disaster to a fire in the author's own home, and he concludes with sensible "tips for going green" appropriate for his intended readers. Designed to be a companion to the author/illustrator's Energy Island (2011), this will be equally welcomed in school and public libraries. (source notes) (Informational picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews

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