Zap! Clap! Boom!: The Story of a Thunderstorm

Gr 2-4–Watching a thunderstorm roll into town holds a certain frisson of excitement. There’s an edge of danger, measured against the joy of the pitter-patter on hot ground. Salas captures the anticipation and joy in a storm, contrasting the exuberance of children dancing in the rain against the darkest, scariest parts of the thunder. MacKay’s dreamy illustrations, mostly in effective spreads, allow readers to fall into the world of this weather. The book is a perfect read-aloud; smart word choices make short rhymes ebb and flow with the storm: “Wind blows fiercely, howls and shrieks. The world groans slowly, shivers, creaks.” The “zap” and “clap” of it all will hold the attention of very young children, but the delicious adjectives will contribute to everyone’s vocabulary. Don’t miss the thunder science section at the end—a gift. Salas writes with whimsy even when detailing scientific reactions.