THE WAY THE STORM STOPS

In this simple rhymed tale, a young girl’s mother comforts her until the storm subsides. As she plays with her toys, the rain taps at her windowpane—“Hiss, hiss / Tatter, tatter / Falls the pounding rain.” Thunder and lightning—“Razz, razz / Flash, flash / Sparks the dazzling light”—finally send her to cower under her covers with her cat. Mom comes to the rescue, bundles her up, and rocks her in her chair. As the storm abates, the girl is fast asleep in bed, the cat curled at her feet. The rhyming verse and onomatopoeia make this a fun read-aloud. Patterns abound in Litzinger’s colorful illustrations, from the rugs and clothing, to the comforter, pillow, and the huge raindrops themselves. But the rendering of the little girl is a little disappointing. Her eyes are non-expressive, and she’s posed rather stiffly. Still, a gentle and comforting book to share with anyone afraid of thunderstorms. (Picture book. 2-6)