Disasters

On the night of February 18, 1952, during one of the worst winter storms that New England has ever seen, two oil tankers just off the shore of Cape Cod were torn in half by the force of the storm....

When a forty-seven-foot sailboat disappears in the Gulf Stream in the throes of a disastrous storm, it leaves behind three weary passengers struggling to stay alive....

Rodman Philbrick presents a gripping yet poignant novel about a 12-year-old boy and his dog who become trapped in New Orleans during the horrors of Hurricane Katrina....

This is the compelling story of the "Okie" migration to California and of the construction and life of a remarkable school at a farm workers' camp....

In this young readers edition of the New York Times bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning The Sixth Extinction, Elizabeth Kolbert tells us why and how human beings have altered life on the planet in a way no species has before....

This is the incredible true story of the 12 boys trapped with their coach in a flooded cave in Thailand and their inspiring rescue. Award-winning author Marc Aronson brings us the backstory behind how this astounding rescue took place....

Learn about the deadly and unexpected blizzard that slammed the Midwestern United States in 1888 and doomed many young lives in this addition to the New York Times Bestselling What Was? series....

The panic-filled summer of 1916, when multiple deadly shark attacks shocked the nation, is chronicled in this gripping addition to the New York Times Best-Selling What Was? series....

Wildfires have been part of the American landscape for thousands of years. Forests need fire—it's as necessary to their well-being as soil and sunlight. But some fires burn out of control, destroying everything and everyone in their path....

Walter Isaacson’s #1 New York Times bestselling history of our third scientific revolution: CRISPR, gene editing, and the quest to understand the code of life itself, is now adapted for young listeners....

Did the Great Chicago Fire really start after a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn? Find out the truth in this addition to the What Was? series....

Imagine a force that can toss boats around like toys, wash away bridges, and create waves as high as 18 feet. With fierce winds and torrential rains, hurricanes can do all of these things....

On August 25, 2005, one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in history hit the Gulf of Mexico. High winds and rain pummeled coastal communities, including the City of New Orleans, which was left under 15 feet of water in some areas after the levees burst....

At 800 feet in length, the Hindenburg was the largest airship ever built - just slightly smaller than the Titanic! Also of a disastrous end, the zeppelin burst into flame as spectators watched it attempt to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937....

From best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis comes a fascinating account of the Spanish influenza pandemic 100 years after it first swept the world in 1918....

In this addition to the What Was? series, kids will experience what it was like to be in San Francisco in 1906 when the ground buckled in a major, catastrophic earthquake....

Each book in the True Horse Stories focuses on a contemporary horse from a different part of the world, and each animal is, in his or her own way, a hero.

In Whistler, British Columbia, dogs can be found riding chairlifts, perched on skiers' shoulders, and even descending from helicopters - all in the race against time to save people caught in the path of an avalanche....

An unusually warm winter day resulted in 2.3 million gallons of molasses flooding the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The disaster killed twenty-one people and injured 150 others....

Tornadoes are funnel-shaped clouds that can cause massive destruction on the ground. Their winds can swirl faster than 260 miles per hour....

Rhinos in Nebraska tells the story of the Ashfall Fossil Beds, where more than 200 perfectly preserved fossils have been found....

Wildfires are one of nature's most frightening forces. In this exciting and historical account of many of the worst fires in American history, all the terror, destruction and human tragedy are vividly retold....

In this adaptation of "The Emperor's New Clothes", Mayor Peacock declares he will hire a tornado tamer to protect the town....

Dutch Shepherd puppy Halo has spent almost her whole life preparing for one job: finding people who are trapped in disaster zones. Her bond with her human partner, Fire Captain Cat, is unshakeable, and together, they can overcome any obstacle....

What are tornadoes? Blizzards? Hurricanes? Listeners will learn the ins and outs of severe weather in this book....

A rumble deep inside Earth. Hot, flowing magma is trapped and needs a way to escape. Pressure builds and causes a break in the surface. Eruption! Volcanic eruptions can shoot lava, ash, and smoke over a huge area. Why do they happen?

Desert, forest, or prairies—droughts can happen anywhere. Discover how small shifts in rain amounts can cause big changes to the land. Learn about droughts, what causes them, and how living things adapt to survive.

Deep underwater, something shifts. Ocean water pulls back from the shore, then comes flooding back. Tsunami! These massive waves happen when earthquakes or other actions cause huge amounts of water to shift.

Smoke in the air. Crackling wood. Wildfire! Get to safety, fast. Dry weather, strong winds, and careless actions can all cause forests to burn. Firefighters battle wildfires from the ground and from above. But you can be prepared!

You may know about the sinking of the Titanic. But did you know science played a big role in the ship’s voyage, disaster, and discovery? Learn all about the ship and the events that led to its sinking.

The ground shakes. A road splits apart. Buildings collapse. It’s an earthquake! Discover how movement deep below Earth’s surface can cause such damage. Learn about earthquakes, what causes them, and how to stay safe if one happens.

Wildfires rip through forests, choke the air with smoke, and destroy homes. Some wildfires are sparked by nature. Others are started by humans. All come with devastating results.

Out in the ocean, clouds spin. Thunderstorms, heavy winds, and rain move toward land. Hurricane! These severe storms can cause floods and other damage. But you can be prepared! Learn about hurricanes, pay attention to warnings, and stay safe.

On July 1, 1916, witnesses watched in horror as twenty-eight-year-old Charles Vansant was attacked and killed by a shark in shallow water off Beach Haven, New Jersey—the first recorded shark attack in American history. Scientists claimed a shark could not be responsible, but more deadly attacks soon followed along the Jersey Shore and up the freshwater Matawan Creek, setting off a nationwide panic that led the White House to declare a “War on Sharks.”

An unusually warm winter day resulted in 2.3 million gallons of molasses flooding the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The disaster killed twenty-one people and injured 150 others. Rescue missions were launched to save people from the sticky and deadly mess, led by the Red Cross, the Army, the Navy, and the Massachusetts Nautical School. With the help of hundreds of volunteers over the course of several weeks, the streets were cleaned up. But the smell of molasses and the horror of the preventable tragedy lingered for decades to come.