Title: Safe in the Storm
Author: Margaret Browne
Publisher: XlibrusAU
ISBN: 979-8-3694-9839-2
Pages: 28
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Education
Reviewer: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
Mother Nature can certainly stir up some violence and power, especially when it comes to sudden rainstorms. With lightning, pouring rain, dark clouds and winds, what was once a nice sunny day can turn rather quickly into a hellish world which can be very scary to youngsters when caught up in it while playing outside.
This is the foundation of the story as readers watch when three youngsters, Jack, Lily, and Sam, are caught up in a fierce sudden thunderstorm while playing outside. One bright sunny day, dark ominous clouds gathered, and at first small raindrops began dropping, then rather quickly the heavy rain, wind, lightning and thunder became threatening. The children were scared. The three children run inside their house as their parents comfort them, and as the family rides out the storm in the safety of their house, the parents distract the kids by building a fort inside the living room and making popcorn. The storm eventually passes and the sun comes up and there is the happily-ever-after ending.
Each page of the story is interleaved with full-page illustrations showing the children’s reaction to the inclement weather by having their facial expressions portrayed by their wide eyes and body gestures. This pattern of text and images creates an impressionable storyboard for the youngest of children to follow along creating an adventurous tale of the weather incident and showing them how to stay safe, dry and warm.
“This too shall pass,” is implied to show youngsters not to be afraid of sudden storms, and to seek shelter and comfort with their parents inside their house. This is a lesson for children to ponder as it is a natural emotion to be fearful of a violent rainstorm.
Author Margaret Browne has created a story in Safe in the Storm which is ideal for any young family library and can be the perfect story to read to children, especially when there is lightning and a thunderstorm outside brewing. Be sure to put some popcorn on the stove and enjoy reading this book with a calming, loving narrative and slowly pace the positive illustrations. It will rain again.
Margaret Browne’s Safe in the Storm is an uplifting children’s book that transforms moments of fear into opportunities for courage and growth. This beautifully written story teaches young readers that even during life’s stormiest moments, they can find peace and the confidence to keep moving forward.
