Disasters in History 8-Book Compilation

Disasters in History
Significant in the making of history are the epic disasters that forever transformed societies and industries. Every disaster leaves an indelible mark on history. In the graphic novel Disasters in History, we have selected eight that have left their mark on humanity. Some are gruesome accounts that emphasize the brokenness of this world. Others show the resilience of humankind, and some even sparked necessary social change. Disasters in History makes these gripping stories of important historical disasters accessible to even the most reluctant readers. Includes the events of The Apollo 13 Mission, The Attack on Pearl Harbor, The Challenger Explosion, The Donner Party, The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, The Hindenburg Disaster, Shackleton and the Lost Antarctic Expedition, and The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.


Experienced parents know that the amount of reading their child does will have a direct and positive impact on his reading fluency and vocabulary development. That is why graphic novels - which we used to refer to as comic books - though once relegated to the category of lowbrow reading, are now experiencing a surge in popularity.

You may think that the comic book medium is primarily for mainstream American children who are peppered by snack-size visual and audio bombardment. If you desire that your children slow down and feast on the written word, then you may cringe at the idea of a graphic novel version of Moby Dick. But before you issue a home-wide ban on these books, consider the following.

If you have a reluctant or beginning reader, your first concern should be for fluidity and competency. You will find that the graphic novel's illustrations draw your child in even as the vocabulary becomes more complex. Then, because the graphics are so attention-grabbing, children often find themselves reading for pleasure.

If your reluctant reader is an older child, your main concern may be making sure that he is culturally savvy. With graphic novels, vocabulary is introduced via contextual clues, making great literature accessible to more children. The interesting pictures and snappy dialogue, with little-to-no narration to bog the reader down, will encourage independent reading and learning. As the child's competence and confidence grow, so will his joy of literacy.

Even if your older child is a competent reader, he will enjoy taking a break from the verbally intense books characteristic of higher-level learning to enjoy a more visual form of storytelling. A 2006 study found that the amount of reading children did for fun decreased from the time they were eight through the teen years. Graphic books can re-engage them in the delights of reading for leisure as well as for learning.

There are children who may never read for pleasure; God just might have wired them differently. But most children, from the reluctant, faltering reader to the brilliant but easily bored adolescent, will find graphic novels intriguing. Publisher: Capstone Press
Binding: Paperback
Consumable: No
Printed in: USA
Faith-Based: No