Green City

January 15, 2016
After a severe storm called a supercell destroyed the community of Greensburg, Kansas, residents banded together to rebuild in ways that would be sustainable and storm-proof. The Greensburg GreenTown project is described here in the voice of an imagined, unnamed child whose experience mirrors that of many residents who survived the tornado of 2007 and participated in the post-storm reconstruction. Drummond's words and loosely drawn pen-and-watercolor-wash illustrations tell the story in a straightforward fashion. He begins even before the title page with striking images of the destructive power of the storm and goes on with a nice interplay of words and pictures through the difficulties of cleanup and relocation, the coming together of the community, and the reconstruction. He shows real buildings: homes and commercial establishments, a water tower and wind farm, the Big Well Museum, and, most importantly, the Kiowa County School. Without being too technical, he weaves in solid information about energy efficiency and sustainability. Sidebars add information about Greensburg's decision to go green and about building sustainable homes and the school. A final note connects the town's disaster to a fire in the author's own home, and he concludes with sensible "tips for going green" appropriate for his intended readers. Designed to be a companion to the author/illustrator's Energy Island (2011), this will be equally welcomed in school and public libraries. (source notes) (Informational picture book. 5-9)

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Starred review from January 1, 2016

Gr 1-5-On May 4, 2007, a treacherous tornado destroyed Greensburg, KS, "in nine-minutes flat." Eleven people died; the school, "hospital, nine churches, the water tower, the drugstore with its soda fountain, the grocery store, the two hotels, the three banks, the theater, and everything else-just gone." President George W. Bush declared Greensburg a national disaster area, and volunteers and donations arrived from all over. The inhabitants decided to rebuild: to make a tornado-proof town and to make it green. They designed models of homes with rounded walls, wood-paneled geodesic domes, and super-insulation. While many chose to relocate, the 800 residents who stayed are now proud to live in "America's Green City." The narrator, a boy in a red T-shirt, jeans, and a green baseball cap, tells the story in an engaging, accessible voice. Speech bubbles add drama and other townspeople's points of view; three denser sidebars provide more information. Drummond's ink-and-watercolor illustrations bustle with detail and activity. Some are full spreads, many are horizontal or vertical panels. An author's note explains that while Drummond was working on this book, a fire devastated his home, causing him and his family to suddenly face the same challenges as the denizens of Greensburg. Happily, they now live in "a house built for the future." VERDICT An inspiring read-aloud for units on natural disasters or for Earth Day.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
Grades K-3 In 2007, a tornado ripped through Greensburg, Kansas. People climbed out of their basement shelters to find only two buildings left standing in the town. But everyone pitched in, first to clean up the mess and then, amazingly, to construct new homes, businesses, and public buildings designed with sustainability as a priority. Reusing materials and mindful of energy savings as well as their climate, townsfolk built a whole new town. While one boy and his family appear in many of the illustrations, this is really the story of the community and how it has changed. With a style, format, and topic reminiscent of Drummond's Energy Island (2011), the book features straightforward text supplemented by speech balloons in the illustrations and a few informative sidebars, including one that lists factors considered when building a sustainable home. From the dark, chaotic scenes at the story's beginning to the light, bright, and breezy ones at the end, Drummond's line-and-wash illustrations set just the right tone for this informative picture book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)