A Voice in the Storm

K-Gr 2–Rat has been feeling as if she carries a storm inside her. When her friend Jackdaw asks if she would like to talk, she runs out into the rain instead, seeking the release of physical activity. She is soon far from home and her friends, overwhelmed by the outer storm as well as the inner one. A new friend offers her some good advice and even helps her find the courage to talk about her feelings. Mesmerizing illustrations use patterns and colors to capture the beauty of nature, the violence of the thunderstorm, and the change in Rat’s outlook. Although the same greens, blues, and purples appear throughout the book, there is a grayness at first that hints at Rat’s sadness. As she lets some of her turmoil out by roaring into the storm, the grays slowly shift, and tans and pinks give the scenes a warmer look. Geometric shapes form patterns on moss, mushrooms, and even the feathers, fur, and scales of the various animals. The scenes are eye-catching whether they show sharply diagonal slopes in the landscape, the constricting coils of Snake, or the soft curves of sheltering plants. Bear’s gentle wisdom speaks to all readers who may be feeling their own storms: “Those who care will always want to listen.”