Customer Reviews

Storm in the Night

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this to my kindergarten class and they struggled to stay interested in the story. It contains mostly dialog which was difficult to follow. Also the dark illustrations were not friendly. The story is good, about overcoming fear and being honest about about your feelings. However, your audience should be about 1st or 2nd grade and you'll want to read it with different voices to help the children understand who is talking.

I am a fourth grade teacher and this book is perfect for teaching various forms of figurative language. There are plenty of opportunities to explore similes, metaphors, onomotopoeia, and personification. The imagery is rich and vivid. Since its language and illustrations are more sophisticated, it captures and holds older students throughout this story making it a treasure for teaching students of all ages.

This book is execellent in explaining about fear and how to conquer it. My f0ur children loved it!

Grandfather and young Thomas are alone in their darkened house, and the power outage prevents them from engaging in any of their ordinary diversions. Without the use of their vision, their other senses are sharpened, and the sounds and smells of their home and community surround them. As Thomas gazes out the window at a scene illuminated by moon and lightning, Grandfather remarks, "No help for it - I shall have to tell you a tale of when I was a boy." He then recounts a time when he, at Thomas's age, hid under a bed during a storm, only belatedly remembering that his puppy, also terrified of storms, was still outside. Thomas, who has claimed to not be afraid of the storm and dark, finally admits that if he had been alone he would have been. Eventually the lights do come on, and the story closes with an image of a young hand turning off the light in preparation for sleep.

This book, like Wiesner's Hurricane, portrays a child facing a potentially frightening storm, and his fear is defused by the presence of a lovingly protective adult. In this book, however, the primary theme is that of dealing with fear. This conversation takes place in the context of a close, warm relationship, as Grandfather very gently uncovers Thomas's feelings by identifying with him and providing an example of how he faced and overcame his own fear. By using a story about himself, he defuses the boy's embarrassment at feeling afraid, and his calm demeanor creates a safe place for the boy to admit his vulnerability.

This serious conversation doesn't weigh the story down, though, primarily due to Stolz' extraordinary use of language. She describes the physical and tactile experience of the storm so vividly that the listener feels they are there themselves. Her characters' personalities and relationship are skillfully unveiled, and the conversation is well leavened with gentle, teasing humor. Cummings' striking blue-lit illustrations bring just the right mood to this thoughtful and joyful story. It's a great choice for elementary students but may be a little complex for preschoolers.

I really liked this book. It reminds me of some nights when there's a storm outside of my house. However I don't like how she puts the story in two worlds. One is in Thomas's world. One is in Grandfather's story. However it was a good story and the illustrations were exceptional.