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Stormy Night
An award-winning, thought-provoking journey for all ages that prompts thought and exploration of life's questions.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
5 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Michele Lemieux
37 books5 followersInk on paper
The tangled mass represents
outer choices and also the "inner architecture" that evolves as we
live and learn. It suggests the many questions we have about life, especially as a teenager. A boy juggles stars in the upper-right corner.
Ms. Lemieux has illustrated many books in a variety of mediums. She both illustrated and wrote Stormy Night, which has been translated into fourteen languages, won the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award, and was made into an animated film that won the Crystal Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
When she was a child, Ms. Lemieux loved to write stories and draw pictures for them. She would make up little booklets that she would give away as Christmas presents. Her mother was an artist and always encouraged her. But she remembers one class assignment in which students had to write about what they wanted to do when they got older. While all the other girls had traditional goals like getting married or becoming a nurse, she felt embarrassed and strange that she was the only one who said that she wanted to write and illustrate.
As an adult, two of her favorite artists are Picasso and Saul Steinberg. She knows a lot of people who have no goals and complain about their life. She lives by a quote from Seneca, "If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable."
"If I was stranded alone on an island, I would build something with my hands, even if no one ever saw it.
I have a need to create, to be a part of life and leave something behind."
The tangled mass represents
outer choices and also the "inner architecture" that evolves as we
live and learn. It suggests the many questions we have about life, especially as a teenager. A boy juggles stars in the upper-right corner.
Ms. Lemieux has illustrated many books in a variety of mediums. She both illustrated and wrote Stormy Night, which has been translated into fourteen languages, won the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award, and was made into an animated film that won the Crystal Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
When she was a child, Ms. Lemieux loved to write stories and draw pictures for them. She would make up little booklets that she would give away as Christmas presents. Her mother was an artist and always encouraged her. But she remembers one class assignment in which students had to write about what they wanted to do when they got older. While all the other girls had traditional goals like getting married or becoming a nurse, she felt embarrassed and strange that she was the only one who said that she wanted to write and illustrate.
As an adult, two of her favorite artists are Picasso and Saul Steinberg. She knows a lot of people who have no goals and complain about their life. She lives by a quote from Seneca, "If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable."
"If I was stranded alone on an island, I would build something with my hands, even if no one ever saw it.
I have a need to create, to be a part of life and leave something behind."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 12, 2008
The French write weird books for kids. Okay, not weird. Existentially truthful, scary books. It's sort of comforting, because it anticipates the universal human fears & universal human suffering...the sort of worries kids and adults SHARE. So you have scary pictures with statements and questions like "I'm scared of being abandoned" or "Will the world come to an end someday?" or "Will I know when it's time to die?" Maybe the author is quebecoise. I don't know anything about the author, really. I found this in a thrift store and am somewhat fascinated by it. The book is odd-sized and hardbound, the size of two slices of bread laid side by side. The illustrations are black and white and cartoony but effective. It's probably a good book to share with your kids once they're over maybe eight, but not before they're going to bed. Maybe while the sun is fully shining.
February 21, 2020
"Si hi ha un llibre per connectar l'edat adulta i la infància és aquest. Ens fa veure que no hem canviat gens". Jara de Tomás
April 5, 2014
very inspiring, introspective and thought provoking
June 17, 2011
*This review contains graphic, though honest language* It will sound harsh but this book can be summed up in a word: "bullshit". Listen: I can sympathize with a child uncertain about current and future way of life, everyone can because we've all been there. But no way does someone have, oh, I'd guess 175 unique existential thoughts in the course of one "stormy" night (fucked-out metaphor). And oh good god damn it did have to turn religious in the end didn't it?!?! Well take comfort in the book's message, which I guess is happiness and friendship is awesome, assuming you can find them and get past the crushing fears you feel as a rational human being. The art can be described as "college-level stickfiguring"
January 7, 2009
A simply beautiful book that tells the story of a girl who can't sleep on a stormy night because of the heavy unanswerable questions and thoughts that used to keep me up at night as a child too. With only her loving pet dog, she works through these wonderings and fears. I found it rather heavy at times, but also very moving and relatable. I would recomend this book to be read to (or by) more mature children and anyone who has ever had too many worries to sleep.
February 21, 2020
Creo que es el mejor libro para conectar la infancia y la edad adulta, same thing.
February 16, 2025
Una niña con su perro que se hace preguntas sobre la vida, la muerte y el sentido de todo lo que nos rodea. Las ilustraciones, otro nivel. Todos hemos sido ella.
June 28, 2022
4,5.
Fell in love with this book in Buenos Aires and bought a copy to my library. While the questions this little girl poses might not be entirely original, they don't have to be: the book is at its best at how eerie and mysterious its internal flow is. There's a dreamlike logic to it -- to spending time in its company -- that is truly special. Wondrously atmospheric.
Fell in love with this book in Buenos Aires and bought a copy to my library. While the questions this little girl poses might not be entirely original, they don't have to be: the book is at its best at how eerie and mysterious its internal flow is. There's a dreamlike logic to it -- to spending time in its company -- that is truly special. Wondrously atmospheric.
June 12, 2025
Así son las preguntas que me hago.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6UxAKo...
https://open.spotify.com/track/6UxAKo...
April 30, 2017
Not really a book that is really appropriate for kids or tweens. The book has a fair number of passages questioning the afterlife (which is fine particularly if a child has recently had to deal with this) but the passages dealing with the nothingness of existence and the possibility there is nothing after death is not something I'm personally ready to discuss with my 11-year-old and it's not something she has expressed any interest in discussing either.
This book was poorly positioned as a children's book - with a focus instead on just adults, I think this book could have been much stronger.
This book was poorly positioned as a children's book - with a focus instead on just adults, I think this book could have been much stronger.
May 1, 2014
Delightful !
October 1, 2022
Je me souviens avoir lu/entendu parler de cet album il y a plusieurs années, probablement à l’université dans l’un de mes cours. Bref, je ne trouve pas que c’est l’histoire du siècle, mais les questions que se posent l’enfant peuvent amener des discussions/réflexions intéressantes avec nos élèves. 📚
July 13, 2025
deeply terrifying. read for the first time as a child and even rereading now it makes me feel exactly the same way. like yeah its so scary to read but also sort of comforting?? because i did think like this as a kid. i have always been a terrible sleeper and i can remember long nights of just sitting there and Thinking. this is how it is !!!! wow. what a strange strange book.
December 16, 2025
5/5
Emotional in questioning, and beautiful in the safe space of the family. This makes me want to have one of my own. To teach the world, and more importantly, to learn it together while asking.
A Christmas gift for Dad, who despite everything, taught me how to live, and how to have faith.
I love you Adam Dibble. Merry Christmas.
Emotional in questioning, and beautiful in the safe space of the family. This makes me want to have one of my own. To teach the world, and more importantly, to learn it together while asking.
A Christmas gift for Dad, who despite everything, taught me how to live, and how to have faith.
I love you Adam Dibble. Merry Christmas.
March 4, 2018
I'm not quite sure how to describe this book. It was a really introspective book from the eyes of a child. I found it to be deep, but not cavernous. The character's ponderings really stretch the ponderings of the reader.
October 6, 2025
4,25/5⭐️
Ay, me ha gustado mucho. Al principio pensaba que no me gustaría tanto; pero, conforme avanzas, las preguntas profundizan más.
De preguntas e inquietudes que en algún momento nos han asaltado🫂
Ay, me ha gustado mucho. Al principio pensaba que no me gustaría tanto; pero, conforme avanzas, las preguntas profundizan más.
De preguntas e inquietudes que en algún momento nos han asaltado🫂
November 13, 2017
El libro album para niños más existencialista que he leído. Un bello ejercicio en narrativa que les mueve las ideas a los adultos también.
November 28, 2018
Una chica intenta dormir mientras su cabeza la bombardea de preguntas. Excelente ilustración que acompaña un breve texto con cuestiones que suelen llegar con la pubertad.
April 7, 2021
This is the most random and existential kids book I have ever read
August 13, 2021
4.5 stars.
November 26, 2021
Put on your plaid shirt and don’t wash your hair- it’s extremely emo and not for kids at all.
June 8, 2024
Q bonito
July 12, 2024
What an insightful picturebook, loved the illustrations.
August 22, 2024
Insomnio y mentes de infantes. Me pasó todo por la cabeza.
November 22, 2024
I wouldn't have categorized this as a graphic novel.
October 9, 2025
Plein de belles questions qu'on se demande tous. Ça fait du bien savoir qu'on n'est pas seul à ce les demander...!
September 16, 2009
Stormy Night by Michèle Lemieux
Graphic Novel/Self-Image/Life after Death/Imagination
A little girl goes to bed one night to find that there are too many thoughts and questions in her mind for her to settle down. This graphic novel is set up where the girl asks a question such as “If someone made a hole in the sky, would we see infinity?” Then on the facing page, there is an illustration of her question or concern. The book is thought-provoking and really addresses the issues that adolescents are concerned about, such as, body image, life after death, feeling scared/happy. As the book progresses, the girl becomes frightened of the storm outside. In the end, she comes to the conclusion that it would be great to live forever because you would have friend everywhere. This is a funny and interesting book. The illustrations are light and whimsical (some show a woman’s breast or evoke sexual images). But while the book gives no answers to the questions, it is reminiscent of a young person’s thoughts and helps you know that you’re not the only one thinking like that. This would probably be intended for younger teens (at times, it seems a little childish). It’s very simplistic, and yet not appropriate for children.
Graphic Novel/Self-Image/Life after Death/Imagination
A little girl goes to bed one night to find that there are too many thoughts and questions in her mind for her to settle down. This graphic novel is set up where the girl asks a question such as “If someone made a hole in the sky, would we see infinity?” Then on the facing page, there is an illustration of her question or concern. The book is thought-provoking and really addresses the issues that adolescents are concerned about, such as, body image, life after death, feeling scared/happy. As the book progresses, the girl becomes frightened of the storm outside. In the end, she comes to the conclusion that it would be great to live forever because you would have friend everywhere. This is a funny and interesting book. The illustrations are light and whimsical (some show a woman’s breast or evoke sexual images). But while the book gives no answers to the questions, it is reminiscent of a young person’s thoughts and helps you know that you’re not the only one thinking like that. This would probably be intended for younger teens (at times, it seems a little childish). It’s very simplistic, and yet not appropriate for children.
May 8, 2013
The black and white starkness of the book compelled me to keep reading to discover the truths behind the words. The story about a girl who is up late at night pondering various questions reminded me of my own bedtime routines. It was illuminating how questions are always around us and how one answer might spark another question. This book is for anyone who has ever felt lost at night because they spend the time thinking about what happened during the day, the possibility of tomorrow and the random thoughts that affect each person differently. Time spent worried about something or someone. Time spent praying. Time spent wishing and hoping for the right path to illuminate itself to discover our passion. It was a lovely book and I would read it again. I was hooked from the first page as I wanted to discover what kind of thoughts one girl would have at night. It's not often I find a book I really connect with and I'm pleased to say I won't ever forget this one. It was excellent.
December 3, 2010
Graphic Novel
growing up, insomnia, questions
This graphic novel is a series of illustrated questions a child asks her dog during a stormy night. They are random questions, like "If we could switch bodies, would someone choose mine?" and universal, like "Who am I?"
The illustrations were highly stylized, though to my perceptions, less than artistic. There was little characterization or attention to detail. There lacked significant verisimilitude, in my opinion. I was not able to suspend disbelief. Although this may be appreciated by someone more in tune with the motives the author had for writing this book, and possibly the cultural background that may go along with it(I noticed that the author has a French name), I was unable, with my experience and personality, to appreciate this book, especially as a work of art.
growing up, insomnia, questions
This graphic novel is a series of illustrated questions a child asks her dog during a stormy night. They are random questions, like "If we could switch bodies, would someone choose mine?" and universal, like "Who am I?"
The illustrations were highly stylized, though to my perceptions, less than artistic. There was little characterization or attention to detail. There lacked significant verisimilitude, in my opinion. I was not able to suspend disbelief. Although this may be appreciated by someone more in tune with the motives the author had for writing this book, and possibly the cultural background that may go along with it(I noticed that the author has a French name), I was unable, with my experience and personality, to appreciate this book, especially as a work of art.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2015
On a stormy night, a little girl can't sleep because she has too many questions swimming in her head, ranging from the contemplative, to the imaginative, to the apprehensive. Where does infinity end? Is there life on other planets? Will I be a hero someday? Both the narrative and the illustrations are simple, yet expansive:
I think I really needed this graphic novel at the age of ten or thereabouts, a way to channel my own anxious, ceaseless mind. There are no answers in this book, but it's reassuring for kids to know they're not the only ones asking these questions. Definitely worth recommending to those intense, introspective kids.
I think I really needed this graphic novel at the age of ten or thereabouts, a way to channel my own anxious, ceaseless mind. There are no answers in this book, but it's reassuring for kids to know they're not the only ones asking these questions. Definitely worth recommending to those intense, introspective kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews