Tornado (Trophy Chapter Books (Paperback))

Gr. 3^-5. When a tornado is sighted, a boy's family rushes to the storm cellar. Anxious about the father, who's still in the cornfield, they listen to the storm overhead and to the stories related by their farmhand, Pete, about Tornado, the dog he knew and loved as a boy. Framed by the progress of the current twister, the five interior chapters are Tornado tales. The first concerns a storm that blew the dog and his doghouse into Pete's life; another tells of Tornado's dealings with a cat; yet another relates the dog's ability to do a card trick. One full-page, shaded pencil drawing appears in each chapter. The episodes are fairly short and the print large. The handsome illustrations by Doron Ben-Ami give the volume a more distinguished, less juvenile look than the typical chapter book and convey the story's drama, warmth, and occasional humor. Parents and teachers will find this an excellent book to read aloud, and dog lovers of any age will find it irresistible. Carolyn Phelan