What’s Scarier Than Thunder?

Gr 1-4–Young Claire can’t sleep through a terrible thunderstorm. To distract and soothe her, her father chronicles a litany of situations that are all much “scarier than thunder.” In fact, each example is more ridiculous and hilarious than the next: “a snake with big fangs and uneven bangs,” “the witch in the woods who tried to sell her baked goods to a goblin named Art who just loved to…sneeze!” As her mom jumps into the game, Claire can’t help but laugh and join the fun. The text and illustrations work together, amplifying the energy of the story to a fever pitch. Before Claire knows it, she’s so exhausted that she falls fast asleep. Cornell deftly balances reality and fantasy by juxtaposing vivid scenes of Claire’s family with the rowdy imagineering of her parents in a palette of blues.