Are you afraid of thunder?  Well, fear no more!  Next time we have a big gullywasher, try reading Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco.  In the story, the main character learns that there is no reason to be afraid of storms.  Instead of hiding under the bed while a summer storm rolls in, she and her babushka (grandmother) focus their energy on making a thunder cake.  As they gather the ingredients, they count slowly between the time when they see the lightning and the time when they hear the thunder.  That way, the little girl and her babushka can always tell how far away the storm is and how much time they have to bake the cake.  In the end, the little girl learns that she is much braver than she thought.  And the best part is that Ms. Polacco has included the recipe for thunder cake is included at the end of the book.  I always read Thunder Cake on stormy days, and that next time, you will too!

Reviewed by Ms. Meghan Beshara