Thunder-Boomer!

A summer storm brings relief from the heat—and a surprise—to a farm family.

It's a hot day on the farm, and a little girl, her brother, and their mother are trying to cool off by the pond. Suddenly, dark clouds roll in. A thunder-boomer is on the way! The storm brings pounding rain and hail—and an unexpected visitor: a soggy wet stray kitten. Colorful descriptions of the storm are accompanied by lots of playful sound effects, making this free-verse poem perfect for reading aloud. Charming watercolor illustrations capture all the drama, humor, and tenderness of the text.

Children's Literature

The peace of a lazy, idyllic summer afternoon is spoiled by the arrival of dark ominous clouds heralding the approach of a thunderstorm. Kids and parents run for the safety of the house as the rain is pelting down. Dad rushes out to rescue the squawking and protesting Maizey, the children's favorite chicken. As thunder rumbles and lightening flashes, mother mops up puddles, Scooter the dog hides under the sofa and, as the children watch the action outside they are surprised and amused as Dad's underwear whips by, torn from the clothesline. As quickly as it began the wind dies down, the hail stops, the thunder rolls from further away, and the first rays of sun peek through dark clouds. While the family is surveying the damage outside, Maizey heads to the henhouse where the children find her sheltering something under her wing. It is a tiny, wet, black kitten with a "thunderous purr." With Dad's permission to keep him, the children quickly and aptly name him Thunder-Boomer. The ebb and flow of the free verse begins quietly, builds tension as the storm approaches, reaches its apex at the height of the storm, and descends to a peaceful conclusion. Words create mood and atmosphere and are in perfect harmony with the illustrations. Using a mixed media of watercolor, collage, crayon and gouache in a muted palette the colors move from the grays and blues of the threatening storm and the ever-darkening day and then lighten to yellows and pinks as the storm abates and the day brightens. Onomatopoeic word scattered throughout text and illustration brings the sound and fury of the storm alive. This relief from the heat adventure with a surprise ending is a perfect hot summer day read aloud.Reviewer: Beverley Fahey

Poet and storyteller Shutta Crum has published a number of picture books for children, including Who Took My Hairy Toe, Fox and Fluff, and All on a Sleepy Night. Shutta lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she has been a youth librarian for over twenty years.

Artist John Beder is the illustrator of Mama Loves to Mambo, Mole and Shrew the Whole Year Through, and Grizzly Pete and the Ghosts. He has also created art for movies, animation, and greeting cards. John lives in Comox, British Columbia.