Children’s books are more than just fun and entertaining stories, they can also inform and educate (as many of them do). Max and the Mighty Hurricane, written by Chrissy Hobbs and Ben Jackson with illustrations by Tanya Zeinlova, is one such book that tells a great story as well as offering an educational theme. While we don’t get many hurricanes in the UK, we often just get the tail-end of the them (or the rare ‘dust-devil’ like we had here in Manchester recently – you can read more on BBC News), they remain among the most powerful and destructive natural disasters on Earth. Max and the Mighty Hurricane explores themes of loss and resilience in the face of a hurricane and is the first book in the Navigating Natural Disasters series.
Max and the Mighty Hurricane is a book aimed at children (age 5+). The story is centred around a hurricane and the feelings and emotions of Max who is worried and anxious about the damage the hurricane will cause. The story follows how Max and his family prepare for the hurricane and how their lives are upended by the fierce storm. The story is told through Max’s eyes and focuses more on the uncertainty, fear, and strength required to endure such a catastrophic event.
This engaging story does a fantastic job of not only showing the destructive force of a hurricane and the associated dangers, but how to prepare for an emergency / natural disaster and the emotions & feelings of a child having to live through it. And more importantly, 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.
A thought-provoking read where storytelling with education are masterfully balanced. It allows young readers to grasp the risks of a hurricane and how important being prepared is, as well as helping each other during and after the disaster has passed. A compelling and accessible read that explores a natural disaster while facing the challenges they bring. Perfect for exoring themes of natural disasters, fear and resilience, change and uncertainty, community and support and being prepared.
And no picture book is complete without the illustrations. The wonderful illustrations by Tanya Zeinlova help to bring the story to life. The images help children to easily visualise what the words portray.
While we may not get many hurricanes here in the UK, we do get the occasional bad storm so this book is still relevant. This 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 natural disaster, understanding those feelings and emotions, building resilience, preparing for an emergency and how communities coming together help and support each other, which makes it an excellent learning tool for children. It even comes with an checklist for things to have in an emergency (you can also 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 good story and excellent learning tool that looks at hurricanes, fear, emotions and resilience.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £19.99 (Hardback) / £10.50 (Paperback) / £2.98 (Kindle)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
For more information about this book and the Navigating Natural Disasters series, visit https://navigatingnaturaldisasters.com.
