Read, Write, Repeat.

I’ve always enjoyed watching and listening to thunderstorms. I even like walking in them when I can.

Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to books like Waiting Out the Storm by Joanne Early Macken and today’s featured book Thunder-Boomer (Clarion Books, 2009) written by Shutta Crum and illustrated by Carol Thompson.

This picture book tells the story of a farm family suffering through a hot, sticky day when an unexpected thunderstorm drives them inside. But as they’re slamming the windows and watching the raindrops, they see some strange things.

• Dad’s underwear flying off the line and through the air.
• Hail hitting their roof and their corn crops.
• And their favorite chicken, Maizey, stuck outside.

Funny thing is, Maizey isn’t keen on being rescued, but no one finds out why until after the storm. I’ll let Max, today’s guest reviewer, take it from here:

Guest reviewer: Max

Age: 8

I like: Playing basketball. Playing with my brother, Will. Playing baseball.

This book was about: A family who knew a storm was coming. They called it a thunder-boomer. And the little girl’s chicken, Maizey, is behaving crazy, but she’s really trying to protect a little kitten.

The best part was when: The thunderstorm seemed like a tornado. And when the farmer didn’t get right inside and was soaked.

I was worried when: The storm got really bad. I thought the house might blow down.

I was surprised when: The dad’s underwear went flying into the sky.

This book taught me: Why Maizey stayed out in the rain.

Three words that best describe this book: “Thunder-boomer.” “Underwear.” “Storm.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “Dad’s underwear!”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: Why Maizey behaves so strangely.

By the way, when Max encounters a storm, he gets in his bed and hides under the covers. Unless, as he says, it’s a tornado. “Then,” he says. “I go to the basement.”

Thanks, Max!

To learn more about author Shutta Crum and her other wonderful books, visit her website.

One thing I’ve learned as a parent is that, to kids, underwear is intrinsically funny.

And while underwear isn’t the main focus of Florence Parry Heide’s Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated (Schwartz & Wade, 2009) it does add a few light moments to that book that today’s guest reviewer quickly picked up on.

What’s more, the book was one of several books recognized by the 2010 Charlotte Zolotow Award committee. The committee honors the best picture book texts published in the United States in the preceding year. The award — administered by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, a children’s literature library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison — is named for Charlotte Zolotow, a children’s book editor and author.

Anyway, Princess Hyacinth tells the story of, well, Princess Hyacinth. She’s a pretty normal princess with a problem. If she’s not wearing her special princess clothes with their gold and diamond weights, she floats away.

No one is quite sure why, but it does cause its share of problems. She can’t play in the park, go swimming or sleep in her bed. Hyacinth enjoys floating in the castle, but more than anything, she wants to float outside. What happens when she tries?

Let’s ask Sonia — if she can get past the underwear.

Our reviewer: Sonia

Age: 7

I like: Playing with my friends. Eating noodles. Snuggling with my blanket. Cuddling with my cat, Vince.

This book was about: Princess Hyacinth who floated. She can go up, up and away, but she doesn’t know how to get down. A boy – named Boy – helps her.

The best part was when: She floated up from her bed to the ceiling in the castle.

I laughed when: She took off her princess clothes and was in her royal underwear.

I was worried when: When she floated up into the sky outside.

I was surprised that: She got tangled up in Boy’s kite and he pulled her down.

This book taught me: Don’t go outside in your underwear.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The picture showing her all tied up so she won’t float away as she puts on her princess clothes.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Up,” “princess” and “float.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “‘Why can’t I float around outside?’ was a question Princess Hyacinth had asked six million times.” And, I liked the page that says, “I never knew the sky was so high” and shows Princess Hyacinth floating away with the balloons.

You should read this book because: It’s funny. And it shows her underwear.

And, really, what more do you need than that?

Learn more about author Florence Parry Heide. Learn more about illustrator Lane Smith.