Storm by Jane Bunn. Illus. by Dasha Riley
When dark, menacing clouds scurry across the sky, lightning piercing the sky above, Jane rushes inside with her dog, Stamp. Both are shaking as they watch the progression of the wild wind across the landscape outside their home. Thunder roars and lightning flashes, hail peppers the roof, wind howls, Stamp crawls under the bed. The next day the impact of the storm can be seen. Mr LI’s washing line is in the lake, leaves and branches need to be cleaned up.
Stump is still scared, and there is news of another storm tonight. So, Jane goes to the library to find some information about storms and why they happen. She finds out what storms are and how they occur. She asks her mother about lightning and is told to ask her Aunt Kate, which she does. She helps Mrs Alam next door to sweep up the rose leaves and asks her where the wind comes from. Mrs Alam explains, offering an explanation that all ages can understand. When her family sits down for afternoon tea, Mr Li brings in the big hailstone he found, which prompts Jane to ask how they got there. By the time the evening comes around, Jane is happy that she has learnt so much about storms and why they happen, but she is still aware that her dog, Stamp, is not as content. She reads out everything she has learnt about storms to Stamp. He is still not happy, so she develops a Stamp safety plan.
The safety plan predicts all the things that a storm can bring. Protection is the best thing, so Stamp must stay indoors, away from windows and doors. If caught outside, then be the shortest object. Do not shelter under an umbrella and stay away from metal objects.
That night another storm crosses overhead. This time Jane and Stamp count the seconds between seeing the lighting and hearing the thunder and work out that it means the storm is 4 kilometres away. She sings lullabies to Stamp, and both are calm. The next day Jane and Stamp join their neighbours and the family in cleaning up the debris left by the storm.
Jane Bunn, a weather presenter, gives an easily absorbed story which will entertain readers, as well as giving them a basis of facts about many aspects of the weather as part of the story. And all supported by Dasha Riley’s illustrations, which give a clear indication of what a storm feels and looks like as it passes overhead. The mess left by a storm is clearly shown and the support of neighbours in clearing it up will speak to children who have seen on the TV news the aftermath of storms, and the role of communities in getting things back to normal. Her nonfiction pages are clear and fitting for young readers. And each of these: Storms, Lightning, Wind, Hail, Facts about Storms, and Stampy’s storm safety plan, all have a series of rings to show they belong in a folder and are different from the other pages which tell the story of Jane and Stamp.
This book is an entertaining and informative book about storms and what children should do when caught in one. Children will love watching how Janes tries to help Stamp overcome his fear of the storm, be intrigued with the pages giving facts about storms and what to do and be interested in Jane Bunn’s page about herself at the end of the book. This page outlines her early interest in the weather and encourages younger readers to be well informed.
Themes: Weather, Storms, Lightning, Wind.
Fran Knight