Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum

Somehow I've never read anything by Shutta Crum before. I don't even recall hearing her name (and I would have remembered, don't you think?). Now I'm wondering what I missed, because I think this is going to be a classic! It's a hot and humid day on a midwest farm, until clouds begin to gather. It's a thunder-boomer! A giant storm that sweeps over the farm with thunder, lightning, torrential rain, and hail. When it's all over, they find something special out by the barn.

The language is evocative and lovely, but retains plenty of action and fun sounds for children to enjoy. There's genuine tension in wondering if the hail will damage the crops, but it doesn't detract from the family's appreciation of the cooling and majestic storm. A perfect read-aloud for hot summer days, or for kids feeling a little scared of a big storm.

Carol Thompson's illustrations are a great match for this fresh story. Her mixture of materials and techniques gives a realistic and textured feel to the illustrations and is perfect for showing the evolution of the storm.

Verdict: Recommended


ISBN: 978-0618618651; Published June 2009 by Clarion; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library