Children’s books are more than just simple stories, they can both entertain and educate. Max and the Mighty Hurricane, written by Chrissy Hobbs and Ben Jackson, illustrated by Tanya Zeinalova, tells a compelling story with an educational theme. Although we don’t really have many hurricanes here in the UK, they are among the planets most powerful natural disasters. This book explores loss and resilience during such events, and is the first book in the Navigating Natural Disasters series.
Max and the Mighty Hurricane is a book aimed at children, age 5-9. The story centres around a hurricane and the feelings and emotions of Max. Max is worried and anxious about the damage the impending hurricane will cause. The story follows how Max and his family prepare for the incoming hurricane and looks at how their lives are upended by the fierce storm. The story is told through Max’s eyes and focuses more on the uncertainty and fear of the upcoming storm as well as the strength required to endure such a catastrophic event.
This is an engaging story that does a fantastic job of not only showing the destructive force of a hurricane and the associated dangers, but it also demonstrates how to prepare for an emergency / natural disaster while examining the emotions and feelings of a child having to live through it. More importantly, it explores how to navigate those feelings and emotions with the help of family and the wider community.
Overall, Max and the Mighty Hurricane is a story that will engage children, getting them to ask questions – not just about hurricanes but about natural disasters, what do in an emergency and how to prepare as best you can. It is written well so that young children can grasp the concept of the physical and mental damage that a natural disaster can cause and the resilience needed to overcome the consequences.
I thought the storytelling combined with the educational aspects were very well balanced. It helps young readers understand the very real dangers of a hurricane and the importance of being prepared and supporting each other after the disaster has passed. An accessible read that addresses natural disasters and the challenges they bring. It is suitable for exploring themes such as natural disasters, fear and resilience, change and uncertainty, community and support, and preparedness.
As it is a picture book it wouldn’t be complete without the illustrations. The wonderful illustrations by Tanya Zeinalova help to bring the story to life.
While we may not get many hurricanes here in the UK, we do get the occasional bad storm so this book is still relevant to young readers here. And the book is more than just a story around hurricanes and their effects, it is more a story of fear and how scared and anxious Max is about a pending natural disaster, understanding those feelings and emotions, building resilience, preparing for an emergency and how communities coming together to help and support each other, which makes it an excellent learning tool for children.
At the back of the the book it has a checklist for things to have in an emergency (you can read more about how to prepare for an emergency on the UK Government Prepare website, other countries have their own versions such as www.ready.gov in the USA and www.nema.gov.au/prepare in Australia for example).
Max and the Mighty Hurricane supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) by helping children process fear, build resilience, and navigate change. Through self-awareness and emotional regulation, children learn to understand their feelings and cope with uncertainty.
A excellent learning tool that looks at hurricanes, fear, emotions and resilience.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £19.99 (Hardback) / £10.50 (Paperback) / £2.98 (Kindle)
For more information, visit navigatingnaturaldisasters.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
