The Hurricane Book I Wished Existed
I've spent years collecting hurricane books.
With hurricane season starting this week, I've been thinking a lot about the children and families I worked with during my years in South Florida.
I learned that the best time to talk with children about hurricanes is before one is headed our way.
Over the years, I bought just about every hurricane book I could find. Some were wonderful stories. Some focused on weather science. Some shared personal experiences. Together, they helped children and families learn about hurricanes from many different perspectives.
But I could never find one simple book that clearly explained:
What a hurricane is
Why hurricanes happen
How families prepare
What children can expect
As a result, whenever a storm was approaching, I often created personalized hurricane social stories for the children and families I worked with. Each one was tailored to the child's questions, concerns, and needs, but they all shared a common goal: helping children feel informed, prepared, and a little less worried.
Years later, I still find myself thinking about those families every hurricane season.
That's why I wrote "Hurry the Hurricane."
"Hurry the Hurricane" is a calm, child-friendly book designed to help children understand what hurricanes are, why they happen, how families prepare, and what they may experience before, during, and after a storm. My hope is that it helps children—and the grown-ups who support them—approach hurricane season with greater understanding, confidence, and peace of mind.
As hurricane season begins, I'm especially grateful for all the South Florida families who taught me so much over the years and inspired this project. Their questions, experiences, and resilience shaped this book in more ways than they probably realize.
I'm also excited to share that "Hurry the Hurricane" is currently in the illustration phase and expected to be released this fall. Watching the story come to life through artwork has been incredibly rewarding, and I can't wait to share more as the project continues to move forward.
After years of creating hurricane social stories for individual children, it's incredibly special to know this one will soon be available to families everywhere.
Thank you for following along on this journey. More updates to come soon!