Lightning

Bibliographic Information
Simon, Seymour. 1997. LIGHTNING. HarperCollin’s Children’s Books. New York, NY. ISBN 006088438X

Plot
This is a simple, hands-on book about lightning—how it is made, what it is, and the different types of lightning that exist. This book introduces the topic of lighting in an interesting way. It gives astounding statistics about the number of lightning strikes per second, the scientific reason behind how lightning is created, and offers a visual buffet of photographs of different types of lightning. Whether a reader of seven or seventy reads this book, the ease of prose and vivid way of explaining the phenomenon of lightning will certainly be an illuminating experience.

Critical Analysis
This deceptively simple picture book lures you into quickly turning pages with tantalizing facts such as the opening line, “Every second of every day more than a hundred lightning bolts strike the earth.” The sheer mental strength it takes to comprehend the amazing statistics are tempered with dazzling photographs that show the ferocity, beauty, and untamed power within a bolt of lightning. Not only does this book present new terms in italics and explain the terms in easily understood language, it offers practical advice on how to avoid being struck by lightning and what to do if you find yourself stuck outside during a storm. It also explains that thunder is the result of lighting and gives specific instructions to discover how close, or far away, the lighting is from you. In short, this book provides lively facts that seem to almost trick the reader into thinking they are reading for pleasure instead of for information.

Review Excerpts
Booklist: "Simon's simple yet dramatic description of lightning as a 'river of electricity rushing through an ocean of air' sets the tone for this excellent photo-essay. The subject is exciting, the information is amazing, and the full-color photographs are riveting, each spectacular picture more exciting than the last. Simon's explanations are concise but thorough. He includes plenty of information for student researchers--incredible statistics about lightning strikes and storms, explanations of different types of lightning (including some recently discovered ones), and information on how lightning occurs and is studied by scientists. There are also some intriguing anecdotes to add texture to the facts. The book will be a valuable addition to science classrooms and library collections serving a variety of age levels."

School Library Journal: "The stunning, vibrantly colored photographs help to explain the text, illustrating points such as the differences between the three kinds of lightning. Short, simple sentences make this topic accessible to younger readers but do not talk down to older report writers. Simon emphasizes precautions about lightning (for example, 'If you are in water, get out as soon as possible'). He also lists safe places to be if you are caught out in the open during a lightning storm.”

Connections
Making Your Own Lightning
Ask students to shuffle the bottoms of their feet on the carpet. Explain that you are becoming the cloud, and preparing your electrons to become lightning. Once the children have done this, allow them to touch a doorknob. Explain the electrons “jumped” to the metal knob because of their charge.

Types of Lightning Treasure Hunt
Print several different pictures of each of the following types of lightning. Be sure to include:
Heat lightning
Summer lightning
Sheet lightning
Ribbon lightning
Colored lightning
Ball lightning

Attach tape to the back of each picture and stick them on one side of your wall. Under the types of lightning, ask each student to take their picture and put it under the correct picture. Maybe allow the class 2 guesses and inform them that they are not all correct. Get the children to help each other and voice their opinions for why the lightning should be in one category and not the other.