Book Review of My Weather Book: Tornado Safety
The Children’s Book Review
My Weather Book: Tornado Safety
Written by Matthew Jones
Illustrated by Danika Runyan
Ages 4+ | 32 Pages
Publisher: My Weather Book LLC (2025) | ISBN: 979-8-9950851-0-2
What to Expect: Tornado safety, storm preparedness, STEM, weather education, interactive learning, reassuring refrain.
My Weather Book: Tornado Safety transforms weather anxiety into confidence by teaching children practical steps to stay safe during severe storms.
When Leo’s class learns about storms at school, he gets excited to share his newfound knowledge about tornadoes with his family. But learning turns into real-life preparation when a tornado watch is issued for their county, prompting Leo and his parents to gather emergency supplies and prepare their home’s safe place. As dark, greenish skies roll in and sirens wail, Leo must rely on what he learned from his teacher—“Don’t be scared, be prepared!”—to guide his family calmly through the storm.
Delivered in a narrative that seamlessly balances essential educational facts with engaging storytelling, complex meteorological terms like “supercell,” “tornado watch,” and “tornado warning” are explained in clear, accessible language. Author Matthew Jones’s prose flows smoothly, anchored by the reassuring, repetitive refrain, “Don’t be scared, be prepared!”, that gives children a memorable takeaway to hold onto during scary situations. Rounding out the story is an interactive question section at the end that serves as an invaluable tool for continuing important safety discussions at home or in the classroom.
From depicting the specific items needed for an emergency kit to illustrating the eerie shift in sky conditions, Danika Runyan’s colorful illustrations capture both the emotional beats and practical safety concepts of the story.
A reassuring and informative guide that succeeds in turning storm preparedness into a comforting skill, My Weather Book: Tornado Safety is an ideal read for families living in storm-prone regions, early childhood educators, and any young reader who feels anxious when the weather turns dark.
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About the Author
Matthew Jones is a national Emmy Award-winning meteorologist and science communicator with over a decade of experience in local and national news. He has a passion for communicating the weather to the public and is always looking for a better way to tell the weather story.
Matthew lives in Atlanta, GA, with his wife, sons, and dog Doppler. He first created My Weather Book to help start a conversation with his kids about how to stay safe during severe weather. Through this story, he hopes other parents and teachers can have the same conversations with their kids about how to stay safe when severe weather arrives.
