Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-A short text and brightly colored artwork tell of a mother comforting her child during a thunderstorm. The rhythmic verses follow a three-line pattern: "Pitter, pitter/Plam, plam/On my windowpane." As the storm builds to a climax, the text mimics the sights and sounds of the lightning and thunder: "Razz, razz/Flash, flash/Sparks the dazzling light." Just in time, the mother comes to calm her fearful daughter. As the tempest subsides, the child settles into bed with a "Flutter, flutter/Hush, hush/Sleeping, sleeping warm." The illustrations are done with watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, and use basic shapes to create a childlike quality. Litzinger captures the fear in the girl's big round eyes and "OH!" mouth. Circular shapes are repeated in faces, the rug, a cat, and other objects in the child's room, providing a feeling of comfort while the vivid colors keep the mood light. Stamped raindrops splash throughout the pages and endpapers. Filled with bright images and rousing sound effects, this book will work well shared one-on-one or in toddler storytimes.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
While a young girl plays, a storm starts with the pitter, pitter / Plam, plam of raindrops on the window, building to rolling, rolling / Bam, bam. The worried child takes refuge in her bed until Mom's reassuring arms calm her. The story is slight, but soft hues of watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil make a soothing home environment while thunder crashes outside. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this simple rhymed tale, a young girl's mother comforts her until the storm subsides. As she plays with her toys, the rain taps at her windowpane--"Hiss, hiss / Tatter, tatter / Falls the pounding rain." Thunder and lightning--"Razz, razz / Flash, flash / Sparks the dazzling light"--finally send her to cower under her covers with her cat. Mom comes to the rescue, bundles her up, and rocks her in her chair. As the storm abates, the girl is fast asleep in bed, the cat curled at her feet. The rhyming verse and onomatopoeia make this a fun read-aloud. Patterns abound in Litzinger's colorful illustrations, from the rugs and clothing, to the comforter, pillow, and the huge raindrops themselves. But the rendering of the little girl is a little disappointing. Her eyes are non-expressive, and she's posed rather stiffly. Still, a gentle and comforting book to share with anyone afraid of thunderstorms. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
