Reviews
"The narrator, a boy in a red T-shirt, jeans, and a green baseball cap, tells the story in an engaging, accessible voice . . . 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.' An inspiring read-aloud for units on natural disasters or for Earth Day." -- School Library Journal , starred review "Smartly laid out with both vertical and horizontal frames that contain small amounts of text, the book allows beginning readers to process the steps in planning and execution while giving them plenty of visual clues for potentially unfamiliar vocabulary. Watercolor illustrations--a vibrant blend of vignettes, full-page art, and double- page spreads--showing the clean-up, planning, and construction reflect the can- do attitude of Greensburg . . . This book is a triumph of both community action and scientific writing." -- The Horn Book, starred review "Without being too technical, [Drummond] weaves in solid information about energy efficiency and sustainability . . . Designed to be a companion to the author/illustrator's Energy Island , this will be equally welcomed in school and public libraries." -- Kirkus Reviews, Energy Island: "The thrilling idea, the book concludes, is that Samso is 'not very different from where you live.' Your community doesn't need wind; it needs a spark, to get people to think and work together." - Los Angeles Times " Energy Island opens with the power of wind captured by a pinwheel, an illustration that neatly encapsulates this remarkably accessible book about the path to energy independence on the Danish island of Samso." - The New York Times Book Review
