A gentle story that turns a booming thunderstorm into a soothing lullaby "Pitter, pitter Plam, plam On my windowpane- Hiss, hiss Tatter, tatter Falls the pounding rain" Thunderstorms make the most exciting sounds, though they can sometimes be a little scary, especially for small children. Mommies also make wonderful sounds, but they are warm and safe and the best comfort of all at the end of a blustery day. This lyrical, rhythmic bedtime story takes the fear out of the unexpected and provides a reassuring antidote for children. A wonderful read-aloud that preschoolers will enjoy. PreSchool-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 Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. "[A] gentle and comforting book to share with anyone afraid of thunderstorms." -- Kirkus Reviews "Filled with bright images and rousing sound effects, this book will work well shared one-on-one or in toddler storytimes." -- School Library Journal Michelle Meadows was inspired to write this book after scooping up her young son, Chase, and rocking him back to sleep during a raucous thunderstorm. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her family. This is her first book for children. Rosanne Litzinger vividly recalls her first storm, the "big, booming, zippy, flashing kind" that came and went in about fifteen minutes. The illustrator of Louella Mae, She's Run Away! , among other books for young readers, Ms. Litzinger lives in Beverly Hills, California. Used Book in Good Condition