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Veteran broadcast meteorologist Kristine Kahanek makes science fun with new book series
By Kim Nguyen, knguyen@acnpapers.com
Just in time for the winter season, “Katie and the Magic Umbrella: On Snowflake Trail” was released Thursday to educate children about winter storms, the difference between sleet and freezing rain, cold weather safety and why no two snowflakes are alike.
Written and published by veteran broadcast meteorologist Kristine Kahanek, the “Katie and the Magic Umbrella” series is designed to teach children ages 4-10 about the science behind weather to help them overcome their fear of storms.
“It was around May [2008], when the area was having a lot of severe weather situations and parents were contacting me at the station asking for ways to help ease the fears their child was experiencing,” Kahanek said.
Kahanek’s character, Katie, is inspired by the daughter she lost 10 years ago, proving that one can triumph over tragedy and provide hope that can help others.
“It was very obvious to me to base the main character’s guardian angel on our family’s guardian angel,” she said. “Until now, I’ve never really found a way to pay tribute to her memory.”
“The two children in the book represent all children afraid of storms and severe weather,” Kahanek said. “The feedback has been great. Much better than I had ever imagined.”
After leaving CBS-11 in May 2009, Kahanek turned her focus to writing full-time and developing a “Katie and the Magic Umbrella” brand with children’s merchandise, including a plush Katie Doll with detachable wings, coloring and activity books, educational DVDs and a youth-sized Magic Umbrella with pink wings that pop up.
The “Katie and the Magic Umbrella” book series incorporates adventure, fun weather facts, a question and answer section facilitating a dialogue between adults and children and a glossary of weather terms. Kahanek created Katie and the Magic Umbrella for pre-K and elementary age children, their parents, teachers and caregivers.
What sets the “Katie and the Magic Umbrella” series apart from other educational books is that it is geared toward the younger learners, Kahanek said.
“My ultimate goal with the book series is to provide comfort to young children by calming their weather fears and make learning fun,” she said.
Weather has always had magical qualities for Kahanek, whose love and passion for it was fueled by her father, a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force. This fascination also became her chosen career path which included receiving a bachelor of science degree in meteorology from Texas A&M University to becoming the first female chief meteorologist in Dallas-Fort Worth certified by both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. Over the past 20 years, Kahanek has been an award-winning broadcast meteorologist for stations in Waco, Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Kahanek began her career at the National Weather Service in Austin. Her first job in television began in Waco at KXXV-TV. Three and a half years later she moved back to Austin to report morning weather for the ABC affiliate KVUE-TV. She was fortunate to have several on-air opportunities, but accepted a position to report morning weather for WFAA-TV, the ABC affiliate where she worked for more than four years. After a short hiatus from television to stay home and care for her two young children, Kristine accepted the Chief Meteorologist position at KTVT-TV the CBS affiliate in the fall of 2002, becoming the first female Chief Meteorologist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Kahanek holds the Seal of Approval from both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association for on-camera excellence. In 2005, Kristine was named Best Meteorologist by “D Magazine,” the Dallas city magazine.
The Katie and the Magic Umbrella Books and merchandise are available for $14.95 purchase online at www.katieandthemagicumbrella.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com and in area book and specialty stores such as Legacy Books and Learning Express in Plano.
Kahanek will treat guests to a special presentation and a reading from her new book in the Katie series, “Katie and the Magic Umbrella: On Snowflake Trail,” from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Legacy Books at The Shops at Legacy.
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