Review by Booklist Review
In a little, roadless community, where rolling hills are dotted with small houses and punctuated by a lighthouse at the edge of the sea, foxes perk their ears at the sound of rumbling thunder, while indoors, a family brings out candles and a radio. A boy and his dog run home, while fishes dive deep and seagulls shelter in a cove. "Then lightning cracks, / And thunder ROARS-- / It shakes the shutters, rattles doors. / The rain pours down. / The sky turns slate . . . / We hunker down to watch and wait." After the storm, animals emerge and so do people, hauling away debris, checking on neighbors, and getting together for food and conversation outdoors. The author of many picture books, Ashman once again shows her sure hand in writing rhymed verse that flows well and provides a satisfying narrative. Yoo's colorful, expressive illustrations, created with pencil and digital elements, dramatize the storm's power as well as its effects on people and animals. A fine read-aloud choice with many visual details to observe and discuss.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"What do you do when the clouds roll in,/ When the wind chimes clang and the weather vanes spin?" In verse that rolls like a sea shanty, Ashman (Take Your Pet to School Day) watches as animals and people ride out a storm. Bad weather looms even on the copyright page: trees blow sideways, and gray clouds threaten a peaceful blue sky. As the story begins, a girl looks out her window with a worried expression. A family of foxes watches expectantly, too: "We watch./ We sniff./ We perk our ears,/ And listen as the rumbling nears." A child runs home as a parent beckons. While humans take shelter ("We close. We cover,/ Latch and tie"), gulls seek coves and whales dive deep. Pencil and digital spreads by Yoo (Kitten and the Night Watchman) have a hand-worked feel, with loosely drawn lines and sponge print textures that suggest the advancing pressure and glad release of a storm passing. Final spreads show the ocean-adjacent community cleaning up, then gathering for refreshments. The emphasis is clear; in the face of natural forces, human and animal communities are alike in their vulnerability. Ages 3--7. Author's agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (May)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--As a large storm approaches, a diverse group of animals and people prepare and take shelter. They stay safe and secure and enjoy good company while the rain and winds rage outside. Then, when the storm finally passes, they work together to clean up, before celebrating. In a question and answer format with rhyming text, Ashman describes the procedure for weathering a hurricane while Yoo's digital and pencil illustrations convey the storm's sights and sounds. Everyone can be affected by this overwhelming force of nature, and only by working together can they come out unharmed. VERDICT This poetic picture book prepares children for storm season with its helpful formula and assurances.--Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
"What do you do when the clouds roll in, / when the wind chimes clang and the weather vanes spin?" This engaging picture book describes the reactions of the denizens, human and otherwise, of a small seaside community as a storm approaches, rages, and abates. People head indoors, birds take shelter under eaves, bees return to the hive, rabbits huddle in a hollow log. Digital and pencil illustrations begin with a subdued palette, darken to deep purples and grays mid-storm, then switch to cheerful hues in its aftermath. The scenes range from cozy to dramatic-especially on a striking double-page spread of the storm at its height, lightning flashing and forking. The lilting, lively verse is unfailingly appealing. "What do you do when the storm has passed- / When the sun comes out and it's calm at last? // We leave our dens. / We scout. / We fly. / We shake, shake, shake until we're dry" -- that last referring to an adorable beagle drying off in the time-honored doggy way. The same animals and humans recur, allowing viewers to keep track of their favorites throughout the book. Martha V. ParravanoMay/June 2020 p.90(c) Copyright 2020. 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
Weathering storms is best done together. "What do you do when the clouds roll in, / When the wind chimes clang and the weather vanes spin?" the opening text asks as Yoo's illustration focuses on rooftops, above which sea gulls wheel and leaves begin to blow. The page turn reveals two scenes as the narrative voice shifts to answer. "We watch. We sniff. We perk our ears, / and listen as the rumbling nears. / We count supplies. We check the news. / We find our comfort spot. We s n o o z e." On verso, families of foxes and squirrels take notice of thunder while on recto, a human family breaks out candles and a flashlight as the cat sleeps, undisturbed. These parallel scenes move on through the rest of the book, sometimes on facing pages, sometimes not. The humans portrayed comprise a diverse, multiracial cast while the animals include family pets, whales, rabbits, birds, and bees (inaccurately depicted taking shelter in a paper-wasp nest). Yoo's friendly illustrations have a soft visual texture, and while the palette darkens considerably at the height of the storm and some characters register alarm at the thunder and lightning, the art overall creates a cozy, safe feeling. Yes, Ashman's rhythmic couplets are about a literal thunderstorm bearing down upon a coastal community, but it could well be read metaphorically as it depicts the strength found in facing challenges together. Picture perfect whatever the weather. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
