★ 05/24/2021
It was unlike any storm we’d ever seen,” this layered volume’s unspecified narrator says of the title’s weather event: “No one knew how long it would last. We were going to have to stay inside, maybe for a long while.” A father, a blue dog, and three taupe-skinned siblings—one an adolescent, the other two closer to the target audience age—hunker down: “There was nothing to do, and too much time to do it.” As the dark storm rages outside, appearing through the home’s windows in almost every scene, domestic life unravels under the pressure of unrelenting proximity. Fights erupt over messy rooms and digital devices, faces turn orange with rage, and communication ceases. But when a bolt of lightning knocks out the power—in a series of striking images that go from blazing yellow to deep blue and turquoise—the individuals huddle together and apologize. Though the storm persists, “something had changed,” and the family enjoys each other’s company, engages in only minor squabbles, and even puts on an impromptu concert. And when the sun finally does return, they go outside—together—and resolutely begin cleanup out of doors. In bright, flat colors and decisive lines, Yaccarino (Smashy Town) crafts an emotionally nuanced, authentic picture book that simultaneously hints at and avoids mention of recent events. Conveying instantly recognizable sadness and stresses, it clearly shows how connection and resilience can prevail in the face of any storm. Ages 4–8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Aug.)
A Publishers Weekly 2021 Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library 2021 Best Books for Kids selection
A Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice
A 2022 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
★ Booklist ★ Kirkus ★ Publishers Weekly ★ School Library Journal
★“At once timely and timeless…. This book will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.” — School Library Journal, STARRED
★"A new classic." — Booklist, STARRED
★"Emotionally nuanced, authentic .... clearly shows how connection and resilience can prevail in the face of any storm.” — Publishers Weekly, STARRED
★"Feels emotionally true to the process of going through any profound crisis….Resonant and reassuring.” — Kirkus Reviews, STARRED
"In the aftermath of a strange time, “The Longest Storm” feels like a validation—a blessing, even.” —Wall Street Journal
“A deceptively simple story with real emotional and visual depth, concluding with an acknowledgment that happy endings often leave work yet to be done. That, too, hits home.” — New York Times Book Review
One of “The Best Children’s Books of 2021 —Tinybeans
Best of 2021: Our Favorite Picture Books and A Best Picture Book of 2021 for Starting Conversations — Kirkus Reviews
“Masterful….encompasses so many themes and is so well-written that sharing it with readers is highly recommended. A story to ponder and illustrations to consider again and again… thoroughly satisfying ... on all levels.” — School Library Connections
"A profound, optimistic story of dealing with hardship....simultaneously paints a picture of suffering, family conflict, and the power of apology....a must-read." — Books to Borrow, Books to Buy, syndicated column
“Perfectly reflects … our emotions and feelings ….Readers are offered a hopeful and much. Needed reminder that one day the storm will indeed end but we have each other — in good times and bad — until it does." — The Book Wrangler
"The Longest Storm will pull at your heart, but remind you of how far we’ve come….this book is a metaphor for any time we are having a hard time finding a balance….For any house, school or library that wants a gentle way to discuss how being together for an unforeseen amount of time can be hard, but in this book, like any storm, will be light at the end." - Storymamas
"I love the underlying themes of grief and trauma, loneliness, and the healing power of apology. There is just no other book like this out there." —Bilingual Mingle
"Yaccarino’s masterful illustration skills take center stage in this metaphorical picture book about loss and trauma…..could be read aloud to stimulate discussion about the normal process of navigating human relations." — Youth Services Book Review
★ 08/01/2021
PreS-Gr 2—In a distinct but subtle parallel to the COVID-19 pandemic, a family finds themselves hunkering down in their home as an unexpected and dangerous storm rages outside. The three children, one dad, and one dog grow frustrated with their seemingly endless proximity and confinement, bickering over one thing after another—but when lightning flashes nearby, they rally around one another for comfort and find a renewed sense of solidarity that carries them to the day they can finally step outside again. Yaccarino's illustrations draw readers' eye with a charming mid-century aesthetic while bold colors and expressive lines adroitly convey mood. The straightforward prose is equally strong, capturing the tension and tedium of pandemic life with striking effectiveness ("There was nothing to do, and too much time to do it."). This book is at once timely and timeless; whether readers interpret the main conflict as a pandemic or as a literal weather event, the story invites meaningful discussion about how people cope with hardships. Readers of all ages will be bolstered by the message about the resilience of familial love and the endurance of the human spirit. VERDICT A first purchase for picture book collections. Nuanced, affirming, and relatable, this book will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Lib., CA
★ 2021-06-16
A parent, three children, and a dog weather a crisis together.
“A storm came to our town.” Autumn leaves swirl and a child swings from a tire on a tree, yet overhead looms a huge dark cloud. “We were going to have to stay inside, maybe for a long while.” It’s not easy. “There was nothing to do and too much time to do it.” There are moments of chaos: bathtub puddles and dog-chewed shoes. Each person looks unhappy, bored, frustrated, angry. Shockingly, the adult totally loses it. Yet when there’s an enormous flash of lightning (“the whole house shook”) everyone cuddles together, and afterward “things started to get better, a little every day.” The family appears White. Yaccarino’s bold lines and fluid figures against swaths of solid color and his use of shading and shadow are splendid. Outside the windows rain comes down at an angle. Inside there is the yellow glow of a lamp or blue of darkness and the harmony—or momentary clash—of family activity. Sun and blue sky finally make their appearance, and the family is seen in the yard picking up scattered leaves and sticks together, a reminder that the storm didn’t leave things unchanged or unscathed. The story feels emotionally true to the process of going through any profound crisis: a pandemic, death, divorce, or the prolonged absence of a parent who is deployed, a first responder, or battling an illness.
Resonant and reassuring. (Picture book. 3-7)
