A Book of Disasters

Children responded with very mixed reactions to this book. One girl wrote 'The book is rotten. It lives up to its name... disaster!' Some top middle boys however browsed through it with enthusiasm. The book is divided into eighteen sections telling of man-made as well as natural disasters; all have occurred in recent history and are illustrated with press photographs of the events.

The author intends that there should be a serious response, reminding the reader of the part human error and unthinking behaviour play in the creation of disasters. I suspect however that this message will be ignored by those who respond to the book and it will be a publication dipped into by those who find such information exciting rather than a salutary lesson. I see it being read in the corner of the bookshop but not purchased.