Sometimes storms come when you least expect it.  What do you do?  That’s the topic of today’s poetry picture book.

WHEN THE STORM COMES is a picture book written by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo that came out in 2020.  It’s another one of those books where one poem runs the entire length of the book, but I found so much beauty in this book.  I was reminded of I AM THE STORM written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple and illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell, but that book came out in the fall of 2020.  WHEN THE STORM COMES was released earlier in the year right when the pandemic was just starting to start strong and was perhaps overlooked.

At some points this book is in 2nd person point of view, addressing the reader directly.  At other times, it uses a 1st person point of view using “we” to embrace the child within the text (and the reader).  The illustrations juxtapose one child’s experience with several animals in nature.  This dual point of view (seen only in the illustrations) adds a whole other dimension to the rhyming text that pushes us along with the storm.  It’s comforting to know we are not alone when storms hit.  I share three pages from the book to get to one of my favorite spreads, so you can get the general idea of the book and a feel for the rhyme within (which isn’t obvious on the spread with the rabbits).

And if you’re looking for more poetry fun this month, be sure to check out the Kidlitosphere Event Roundup!  Thank you for stopping by!