STORMY WEATHER

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Warm, affectionate and perfect for sharing whatever your age, this book is populated with a rich cast of animal favourites, from rabbits and bears to owls, as they all prepare for a safe night's sleep. With a soothing and comforting text that gently addresses bedtime fears as well as allowing lots of sharing and cuddling, it will become a firm family favourite.
From the creator of No Matter What and The Trouble with Dragons.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

PreS-K-When night falls, parents ease their children's worries as the youngsters prepare for bed. From the strong polar bear to the tiny snail, the animal mothers and fathers are universal in their affection. The story's lulling pace enhances the quiet bedtime read-aloud. A mother rabbit assures her bunny, "If thunder tore the night in two/and lightning played at peekaBOO,/we'd watch the storm pass overhead,/then curl up safe and snug in bed." The clear message maintains its reassuring focus through peaceful phrases. Gliori's familiar characters assist the straightforward narrative through expressive faces, completing a unified package. Watercolor-and-ink spreads utilize warm earth tones within the family homes to contrast the sometimes threatening outside elements or cool night backdrops. Nimble lines support the comforting images, and swirling designs and twinkling stars add unique details. Cozy and inviting, this gentle read will soothe young listeners.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Snuggling up for the night with his mother, a small kangaroo feels cozy and safe while he listens to stories about other animals across the world at bedtime in stormy weather, as oceans roar and rise / and dark clouds race / across the skies. Some of the double-page spreads, in watercolor and ink, may be too packed for the preschool audience, but the pictures do show the unsettling uproar outside, and the comforting rhymes reinforce the sense that everything is snuggly at home, especially on a dark and stormy night, when it rains ten thousand rains. The elemental contrast between turbulence outside and safety indoors provides the drama here, and children will enjoy the wild scenes, secure in their own snug homes.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2009 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review

A genderless parent fox cuddles with its baby at bedtime and explains in several scenarios how he or she would protect the little one from any weather that could break the night's peace. From there, the sing-songy rhyming narrative visits several parent animals in their natural environments shielding their young from all kinds of rain, wind and snow. Though the point seems to be to soothe fears, it has backfire potential. Such lines as, "If thunder tore the night in two, / and lightning played at peekaBOO," could invite children to ponder if thunder really could tear the night in two. Richly colored, sweeping images of ominous gray clouds and lightning filling up the sky add to the menace. But for every possible scare, the parent animal swiftly smoothes out the wrinkles"we'd watch the storm pass overhead, / then curl up safe and snug in bed"accompanied by Gliori's equally comforting visuals. There is certainly no shortage of cuddly bedtime stories about parents keeping children safe and sound, but this is a solid addition nevertheless. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.