Katie and the Magic Umbrella

• Book review: Katie and the Magic Umbrella: A Stormy Adventure

  Best for ages: 3-7

  What it’s about: Alex and Grace are afraid of storms, so their magical guardian angel, Katie, comes down to teach them how weather works so that they can learn that different types of weather are not scary if you know how they develop and where to go if a safe place is needed!

  Why we like it: This is a great book to have on hand if your little one is afraid of thunderstorms. My 5-year-old ate up the whole book with its information and wonderful illustrations and LOVED the guardian angel aspect of it.

  Good to know: The book is written by CBS-11’s chief meteorologist. “Katie” is based on Kahanek’s daughter Katherine whom she lost when she was eight months pregnant. Kahanek told the Star-Telegram: “I thought, what a great way to use her memory as an inspiration and an educator for kids.” To read the full interview, click here.

  -- Elizabeth de Moraes, mom2momdfw.com blogger

  Link: Original Post

• A Letter from a Parent

  Ms. Kahanek,

  My son, Benjamin, was at Reading Friends in Fort Worth when you came to read your book. The whole ride home, he told me ALL about it!! He was also very excited to see you on tv that afternoon and see some of his friends too.

  I knew Benjamin would want to have a copy of your book after you read it and I was right! I am so glad that I preordered it and he was excited to see you signed it to him!

  AS soon as we got home with the book and the Katie doll, we all sat down (me and my three kiddos) and read it. What a wonderful book! They LOVE it! And Katie!

  Thanks so much for writing a book that I am sure will be read many times!

  Sincerely,

  Mindy Dyer
  mom to Benjamin (5), Elizabeth (2) and Ryan (7 months)

• Summerglen Library

  "Kristine presented a wonderful program for 85 moms and kids today at Summerglen Library. She is a great story teller and the animation and sounds on the big screen that accompanied her book kept everyone’s attention. She answered many questions from the kids and adults after her presentation about weather. We all learned something and I know that the kids left today’s story time feeling better about storms. She is very charming and friendly. "

  - Monica Phillips

• A Letter from a Parent

  "Thank you for signing a copy of your book "Katie and the magic umbrella" for my daughters Heather and Hailey. My husband was recently transferred to Granbury and we moved to a new home. All 5 of my children (6,3,2,2,8 months) had a hard time with storms(thunder)in there new rooms. They received your book for Christmas. With the last storm we had for the 1st time they slept peacefully in there own beds. Now instead of spending rainy days in a bathtub, under their beds, or distracted by movies (LOL) they "count the thunder" and play "name that cloud". Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

  God bless -
  Megan Burns

• A delightful, lightning-fast, educational journey through a thunderstorm, for young children

  "KATIE AND THE MAGIC UMBRELLA is a charming, educational description of thunderstorms for young children. Ms. Kanahek's beautifully illustrated book will delight, while reducing the fear of storms. "

  - Howard B. (Howie "Cb") Bluestein, Professor and George Lynn Cross Research Professor

• Great addition to Elementary Libraries

  "This is a great book. The author does a great job of blending a good story with facts about weather appropriate for elementary students. All the students in my school (k-5) enjoyed listening to the book. It is a book that I would highly recommend to librarians and schools everywhere."

  - Elem Principal (Dallas, Texas)

• Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)

  "Written by television meteorologist and mother of two Kristine Kahanek, Katie and the Magic Umbrella: A Story Adventure is a fantastic children’s picturebook about a guardian angel with pink wings named Katie. When a thunderstorm is brewing, she takes her magic umbrella and teaches the children in her care that thunderstorms aren’t bad things at all - they’re an important part of nature. She teaches them scientific facts about the clouds that storms come from, and the lightning that causes thunder. ‘Lightning is electricity and the flash is hotter than the surface of the sun! So hot, it makes the air crash together to make the loud sound of thunder. The closer you are to the lightning, the faster you hear the thunder.’ An educational as well as entertaining book, especially recommended to share with young people who are nervous about the storms - since knowing more about them is the first step to conquering fear!"

• Kristine Kahanek, CBS- 11 Chief Meteorologist, is now a children's book author

  Kristine Kahanek has guided lots of viewers through bad weather in North Texas. Now the chief meteorologist for CBS-11 has written a book that she hopes will comfort kids during the scariest storms.

  Katie and the Magic Umbrella — written by Kahanek and illustrated by Michael Albee and Valerie Jimenez — is the story of two kids, terrified by a thunderstorm, who get a lesson about weather from their guardian angel. As they learn about hail and tornadoes and what causes thunder, their fear disappears — now they know what to do during storms.

  The self-published book was released last week. We talked to Kahanek about her hopes for this project.

• Dallas Librarian Review

  "Katie and the Magic Umbrella: a Stormy Adventure by Kristine Kahanek is a wonderful picture book for children to learn about thunderstorms. The author takes young readers on a journey to explore how storms develop through the character Katie, a Guardian angel. Katie comes down from heaven to help dispel the fears of a brother and sister during an approaching storm and takes them on an adventure to learn what causes all kinds of storms. The illustrations by Michael Albee and Valerie Jimenez are bright and colorful. The book includes questions for discussion and a review of the concepts introduced along with definitions for weather terms not included in the story. This is a wonderful book for children who have a fear of storms or are just interested in learning more about weather and weather concepts."

  - Jo Giudice
  Manager, Dallas Public Library
  Children’s Center/Bookmarks in Northpark

• Nancy and Tom Downey

  We looked through and read the book. It is so bright, dynamic but yet informative. I always forget the number between lightning and thunder. There is certainly an "angelic" nature in this book, something very spiritual;I say that as a rather concrete thinker. Wish you great blessings in your effort.

  Maybe Katie might wish to console children who have lost a significant family member in her next adventure

• Read Review

  Weatherwise.org - Reviews & Resources

  "Meteorologist Kristine Kahanek combines science with play in this educational book filled with colorful illustrations,imaginative explanations,and even discussion questions and a short glossary at the end. Katie and the Magic Umbrella:A Stormy Adventure is a great way to introduce little ones to the wonders of storms."

• Jo Giudice, Manager, Dallas Public Library

  "Katie and the Magic Umbrella: a Stormy Adventure by Kristine Kahanek is a wonderful picture book for children to learn about thunderstorms. The author takes young readers on a journey to explore how storms develop through the character Katie, a Guardian angel. Katie comes down from heaven to help dispel the fears of a brother and sister during an approaching storm and takes them on an adventure to learn what causes all kinds of storms. The illustrations by Michael Albee and Valerie Jimenez are bright and colorful. The book includes questions for discussion and a review of the concepts introduced along with definitions for weather terms not included in the story. This is a wonderful book for children who have a fear of storms or are just interested in learning more about weather and weather concepts."

• Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)

  "Written by television meteorologist and mother of two Kristine Kahanek, Katie and the Magic Umbrella: A Story Adventure is a fantastic children’s picturebook about a guardian angel with pink wings named Katie. When a thunderstorm is brewing, she takes her magic umbrella and teaches the children in her care that thunderstorms aren’t bad things at all - they’re an important part of nature. She teaches them scientific facts about the clouds that storms come from, and the lightning that causes thunder. “Lightning is electricity and the flash is hotter than the surface of the sun! So hot, it makes the air crash together to make the loud sound of thunder. The closer you are to the lightning, the faster you hear the thunder.” An educational as well as entertaining book, especially recommended to share with young people who are nervous about the storms - since knowing more about them is the first step to conquering fear!"

• Rebekah Mitchell, Executive Director of MEND

  "Thanks so much for sending me the two Katie books. It is absolutely beautiful! I babysat my friend’s three girls on Monday and read it to them. The 3 year old listened a little (and would chime in here & there), the 4 year old stayed interested for most of it, but the 6 year old was captivated. When I got to the Q&A, they loved it! They laughingly shouted out most of the answers but on some of them, they were very serious like "What causes thunder?" and "Where is the safest place to be during a thunderstorm?" It happened to thunder off & on Monday then eventually rained. So it was great we had read the book earlier in the day. Throughout the day I quizzed them about what kind of cloud produces rain and why are we hearing thunder."

• Chip Bloecher, Elementary Principal, Carrollton Christian Academy

  "I enjoyed reading your book. I think it is something you should be very proud of. It is certainly a book that belongs on the shelf of our library. And if I could be so bold, it belongs on the shelves of elementary schools all over the country."

Item # 2824 $14.95

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