When the Storm Came

Little Frog and his family live by the river and play on its bank, but they stay away from the old tree stump where the Big Scary Thing lives. One day, however, a very big storm suddenly arrives and Little Frog falls right into the tree stump where he comes face to face with Big Scary Thing…and realises that it might not be quite so scary after all. When the storm blows them all into the water, Little Frog is safe and happy, but the Big Scary Thing and some little scary things are in trouble so all the frogs work together to save the day!

In ‘When the Storm Came’, Chris Naylor-Ballesteros has come up trumps yet again with another wonderful story. Seemingly simple, there is so much to explore and enjoy, making it a wonderful book to share at home, at school- everywhere!

‘Big Scary Thing’ personifies all those unknown entities which, because they are unknown, unfamiliar or simply different, swell to nightmare status without really deserving it. Once faced with this particular Big Scary Thing, Little Frog initially misreads its actions and assumes he is going to be eaten, but he soon realises that the action was protective and that the Big Scary Thing was just as scared of the storm as he was and was only seeking to look after and comfort Little Frog along with the little scary things. The story offers a wonderful starting point for encouraging children (and adults!) to get to know others before judging them and to consider other viewpoints. Re-telling the story from the Big Scary Thing’s perspective offers a wonderful writing opportunity- perhaps creating a play script and acting the story out using glove puppets, or hot-seating the characters and using role play/ freeze-framing to explore their feelings.

Little Frog needs the support of his family to help Big Scary Thing. Big Scary Thing – although big and scary- needs the help of the frogs. We all need help from time to time and we should all be ready and willing to offer support when needed. With its fabulous illustrations and big-hearted story, ‘When the Storm Came’ is sure to be a winner with adults and children alike!

When the Storm Came

Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

Andersen     ISBN: 978-1839132575

You can read my review of Frank and Bert here, Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Learns to Ride a Bike here and Frank and Bert: The One with the Missing Biscuits here

Ning and the Night Spirits

A little boy called Ning lives in Long Shan Valley where every night his family light lamps to scare away the night spirits. Although he really wants to find out more about the spirits, Ning cannot ask the other children as they seem every bit as scary as any night spirit. Hearing his parents worrying about him, Ning heads off into the forest where he meets a night spirit who is anything, but scary. They quickly become friends and Ning meets other amazing creatures and spirits which live in the forest. Finding that they are hiding in the forest because they are scared of people, Ning knows he must find the courage - and the words- to help them.

Perfect for sharing at home or at school, ‘Ning and the Night Spirits’ is, like all Flying Eye publications, a beautifully produced book, tempting readers to pick it up and explore the story within.

Ning is a quiet child who is unsure around other children, lacking the confidence to talk to them. In order to help the creatures of the forest, he has to overcome his fears and find a way to make himself heard. The story is sure to make readers empathise with Ning and encourage discussions about how the children might have been able to support him with overcoming his fears. This might lead to conversations about other fears and seeking ways to tackle these.

The story also shows how easily misconceptions can arise as both the villagers and the creatures of the forest believe they have something to fear from the unknown. It takes Ning to bring the two sides together and explain the misunderstanding on each side, encouraging a celebration of their differences as they learn more about each other. Children might also notice that the animals have been driven away from their natural habitat by the actions of humans- again, leading to discussions about the world around us and being thoughtful towards, and respectful of, everything that lives in it.

Each spread is wonderfully illustrated, with lots of details to notice and enjoy. The spirits and the creatures Ning meets are perfect for sparking imagination and encouraging children to create their own whilst the map on the end papers (showing the change in Ning at the end!) is perfect for using as support for plotting stories in Ning’s world.

A delightful story!

Ning and the Night Spirits Adriena Fong

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1913123161