The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book

by Nancy Tafuri, Nancy Tafuri (Illustrator)

Overview

Ten adorable animals take cover from a storm in this Classic Board Book edition of Nancy Tafuri’s counting book.

Dark clouds started to gather. Bird flew for cover. Now there was 1 in the hill hollow.

The wind started to blow. Mouse ran for cover. Now there were 2 in the hill hollow.

As clouds amass overhead and rain starts to pour, ten little woodland animals hurry to find shelter. Count from one to ten as Bird, Mouse, Squirrel, and their friends run for cover in a cozy hollow. The animals are all safe for the night, but who else is hiding in the cave with them? They’ll find out in the morning—and readers can count from ten to one as the animals scurry out of the hollow and into a big, beautiful day.

This Classic Board Book edition is a hands-on favorite for even the youngest of readers!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442481794
Publisher:	Little Simon
Publication date:	08/13/2013
Series:	Classic Board Books
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	1 - 4 Years

About the Author

Nancy Tafuri is the much-loved creator of more than thirty books for young children, including the Caldecott Honor Book Have You Seen My Duckling? and I Love You, Little One. She lives with her husband and daughter in Roxbury, Connecticut.

Nancy Tafuri is the much-loved creator of more than thirty books for young children, including the Caldecott Honor Book Have You Seen My Duckling? and I Love You, Little One. She lives with her husband and daughter in Roxbury, Connecticut.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-K—Youngsters will begin counting up to 10 immediately as the gathering clouds and wind force a bird to take cover in a hollow part of a hill. Next comes a mouse scampering for shelter, followed by a skittering squirrel. They are soon joined by a rabbit, a chipmunk, a fox, etc. In the morning, after the skies clear, the 10 small woodland critters continue to hear "a rumble and a grumble in the air" and realize that their cave was already occupied by two sleeping bears. Children can then count back down as the animals make a hasty exit. Characteristic of a beloved Tafuri tale, this title accomplishes much with simplicity. Repetitive words—"rumble" and "grumble"—add tension to the plot. Dramatic poses picture the animals' wariness of the storm ahead. They are drawn huddled together for the night as a cozy bunch. An autumn-colored palette with orange-and-yellow leaves swirling across a spread is rendered in watercolor and watercolor pencils. A large black font shows each numeral up to 10. This book could be used for remembering sequences and lessons in "What happened next?"—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

School Library Journal

When a storm starts to brew, the forest animals all take cover in a cave. Bird flies in first as the clouds get darker. Second is Mouse, who scampers in with the wind. Swirling leaves make Squirrel head for cover, while Rabbit leaps at the lightning. Finally the rain starts and sends Chipmunk to safety. Thunder is the final straw for Woodchuck, Raccoon, Opossum, Red Fox and Skunk, who make ten. The animals huddle all night through the storm. The morning dawns bright and clear, but why do they still hear a rumble and grumble? The slow counting build-up is nicely succeeded by a quick countdown as the animals all head back to the forest. Rendered in watercolor inks and pencils, Tafuri's illustrations have a charming quality-future artists can see the pencil marks and aspire to create illustrations of their own. Careful observers will notice the tracks leading into the cave (even before the first animal enters) and can test their knowledge by matching them to the correct animal. Just in time for summer thundershowers. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews