“The day is hot.
Dad plows, his tractor glinting in the sun.
Tom slaps his foot against the surface of the pond.
I sprawl in the shade of the chestnut tree.
Scooter pants with his tongue hanging out.”
I want to share this summer story now...to warm your heart in the midst of all the cold, ice and snow that we are experiencing throughout Canada in the depths of December.
You can feel the steamy, sultry heat of a midwest summer in Shutta Crum's perfect word choice for her newest book about a storm that wreaks havoc on this endearing farm family. It begins in fun, with Mom and the kids lolling by the riverbank, enjoying their toe dipping. When a storm blows up, the world changes and so does their day. As the wind howls and the thunder rolls, they run for the house and cover. Laundry is removed, or blown, from the clothesline. Vehicles are moved to shelter. Even the chickens are brought inside. The skies darken, the winds remain wild and there is incredible noise. At first Maizey, the chicken, seems happy to be inside but she soon becomes very restless and wants her release.
When sharing stories with children, they love the word 'onomatopoeia' and will relish in all the sounds as the family 'swishes' and 'plops' and then the dramatic noise of the storm.
Watercolor washes are the perfect medium for this most enjoyable story. They evoke the power of the storm, the heat and all the fun as the experience is shared. The color change is incredibly dramatic as the story moves from the warmth of the day to the blackening skies and temperature change that the rain brings.
There is an parallel story to follow and kids will love watching it play out, as well as the excitement of the summer storm. To our surprise, this part of the story brings a wonderful gift. What great fun!
As an added bonus, Shutta Crum suggests checking a YouTube video called African Thunderstorm, performed by an acapella group called Perpetuum Jazzile from Slovenia.
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