Storm's Coming! - Hardcover

Preus, Margi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1681340186 ISBN 13: 9781681340180

Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2016

Synopsis

Attentive young Sophie lives with her family at a lighthouse on the shore of Lake Superior. At this essential outpost, everyone has a job to do, whether baking bread, fishing for dinner, or caring for the light. And in this isolated place, in a time long before smartphones and Internet connections, news arrives only by ship, and information is sometimes gathered in unexpected places. Sophie is attuned to her natural surroundings, and she reads signs in a dandelion bloom, a spider's web, seagulls in flight, and even a squeaky door. All these clues lead her to one conclusion: a storm is brewing. Sophie scurries to spread the word--to family members tending the garden, hanging laundry, and picking blueberries. Most important, though: she needs to warn Papa of the impending change in the weather. As the lighthouse keeper, Papa maintains the foghorn, checks the light, and polishes its lens, his chores focused on keeping the signal working properly to warn ships away from treacherous rocks. Will Sophie reach Papa in time to alert him about the storm? And will the lighthouse be ready to guide nearby ships as the sky darkens and rain begins to fall?

About this title

Review:

Preus's (Enchantment Lake) homespun story introduces a family that lives on a cliff high above Lake Superior, in the shadow of an imposing lighthouse. Observant Sophie reads clues from nature--bees take refuge in their hive, a dandelion closes up, etc.--as harbingers of an impending storm, sharing the news with each of her four siblings as they tackle outdoor chores. After Sophie delivers a final warning to her father, the lighthouse keeper, she helps him carry oil to fill the foghorn's engine and wind the clock that keeps the light's lens turning, before insisting on keeping vigil with him during the storm (it's clear that Sophie is both thrilled by and wary of the power wielded by a thunderstorm). Geister's (Surviving the Hindenburg) oil paintings offer tender, close-up portraits of the characters, authentically portraying Sophie's urgency and the dramatic transformation of sky and water as the storm descends. An author's note touches lightly on the science behind the folk wisdom that Sophie and her family relies on, which should fascinate weather-curious readers. Ages 3-7. (Sept.) Publishers Weekly

About the Author:

Margi Preus is the author of several award-winning books for young readers, including Heart of a Samurai, West of the Moon, and Enchantment Lake.

About this edition

• Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1681340186
• ISBN 13: 9781681340180
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Geister David