"His friend Joe told him that thunder was
the sound of the thunderbirds beating
their giant wings in the sky.
Benjamin thought it sounded exactly
like the drum his grandfather played.
Like a heartbeat."
Like most kids, Benjamin loves the rain. Give him some rainboots and big puddles and he is a happy boy! As he jumps and plays, he can hear rolling thunder. Remembering what Joe told him, he imitates thunder's roar to prove he has no fear of it. Of all the beauty to be found in rain, Benjamin loves thunder first.
When lightning makes a jolting appearance, Benjamin is not so keen. He hears his mother calling; the lure thunder's sounds keep him where he is and stepping in time to the drumbeats he feels in his heart. He dances as he makes his way closer to home.
"He danced past puddles, nodding to the rainbows inside them. He spun, first one way, then the other. He tapped his feet and lifted his knees like his father had taught him."
When the thunder stops, Benjamin can again hear his mother calling him home. He is safe and warm with her when the storm finally moves in. What joy it is to dance in the rain! Anyone who has done will know exactly how Benjamin feels.
Ms. Florence does a wonderful job of allowing readers to feel the pure joy Benjamin feels as he experiences a thunderstorm. By comparing it to the joy felt when dancing powwow, those who share this story will feel the power of the drums and the call to dance. Hawlii Pichette's inspired images are full of color and joy. Many Cree words are used throughout the text. A pronunciation guide and translations following the story help with understanding.
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