Thunderland

When a particularly raucous thunderstorm sends a child and dog cowering under the sink, a bearded, bespectacled father coaxes them, suggesting, "We'll miss our chance... To go to Thunderland." Thunderland resembles a homemade, window-adjacent fort constructed of chairs and bedsheets, but as Dad tells the child, instead of representing a place to hide, "Here, we wrap ourselves up tight with the storm. What do you say we invite it to play?" The next time the storm "RUMBLES," the two, portrayed with dark hair and pale skin, yell back even louder, and the youth gains enough confidence to ask the storm its name--Nancy. When an even louder "BOOM CRACK" rattles the house following Dad's taking the last cookie, it becomes the child's turn to offer comfort. Edkins Willis (Little Ghost Makes a Friend) depicts the darkened, storm-surrounded residence in digital art that resembles markers and brushwork. In some frames, thunderclouds seem to be gathering right inside the home, sending bolts of yellow lightning slicing toward the floor. After the storm, the child promises to have Thunderland ready for Nancy's next return; equipped with feelings of security and unshakable love, they know "we can be brave and afraid all at the same time." Ages 3--5. Agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Mar.)

Edkins Willis tackles a common childhood fear with compassion and imagination. The young narrator dislikes everything about thunderstorms--the "inky clouds," "howling winds," "scary shapes in the shadows," and the "CRACKS and the CRASHES and the RUMBLES." When all these dreaded things happen simultaneously, the child hides under the kitchen sink. Dad stands on the facing page, holding pillows as he gazes out at the storm. The protagonist is dubious when he suggests they go to a place he calls Thunderland, but the little one follows him to a pillow fort he's made by the window. Together with their small dog, they huddle inside with assorted stuffed animal friends. The space feels cozy due to the rounded forms, soft lines, and highlights of warm color in the sketchy pictures, which adopt a style similar to some of Dan Santat's work. An imaginative turn occurs when Dad suggests they invite the storm to play with them, and a lively shouting match ensues. Father and child compete with the storm, with their yelling, the dog's howls, and thunderclaps conveyed through large, full-caps lettering. The storm's personification humorously continues as they name the storm "Nancy," imagine where she came from and where she's going, and share their cookies with her. By the time Nancy departs, the child is somewhat saddened by her departure, though decidedly buoyed by playful, sensitive Dad's compassion. Dad and child are brown-skinned. Share this book for thunderous storytime applause.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.