Terrible Storm

by Carol Otis Hurst, S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)

In this fictional account, Grandpa Otis and Grandpa Clark recall the great blizzard of 1888, also known as the "Great White Hurricane," which paralyzed the East Coast of the United States that year. Each man has his own reasons for remembering how bad the blizzard was. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Friendship, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jack & Lily Wills · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book went right over my kids' heads (they're 2), I really enjoyed the differences in the two characters and how they experienced this storm differently. Great drawings and a nice story!

[Lisa DiG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all are so different. And where we find refuge in a storm makes all the difference. Very clever book.

[Patrick Resse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrible Storm, written by Carol Otis Hurst and illustrated by S.D. Schindler, is a story of two older men and a storm that forced them indoors and eventually caused them to meet. This book is most appropriate for kids in kindergarten and first grade and does not have any sort of awards. The book starts with the two old men talking about the worst storm they ever ran into when they were younger. They were in very inconvenient spots when the storm started and had to take shelter. The pages start to split in terms of their perspectives, as they take refuge in two different kinds of safe havens. One is in a nice house with a happy family who happily feeds their new stranger, while the other man is in a barn with a cat and a horse waiting for the storm. Even though they were in two different spots they were both in situations they weren’t fond of.
When they are able to start digging their way out they cross path and then find their way home, revealing that they live in the situations that the other was trapped in. The book ends with them two men on a porch together similar to the beginning.
This is a great story that does something not many other children’s books do, show to different perspectives in a juxtaposition style. This interesting and quirky style of illustration really contributes to the story in an excellent way. It can teach children the idea of separate perspectives and they can become intertwined. The story is not too deep and does not really possess and twist or lessons that are too important for the kids, but can serve as a fun read for children with Christmas right around the corner. The few illustration from inside the houses can also demonstrate how people functioned during times like this. A lesson to do with the kids could be to have them both write a story about Christmas and split narratives with a partner about how they both individually spend their Christmas, and then put it in the class library. A second lesson can be to catapult off this book into a history lesson of the 1800’s and how people functioned in different scenarios.

[Abby Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place in Westfield, Massachusetts. It's the story of two elderly men who survived the March 1888 blizzard. They recount their own personal experiences of being snowed in during the blizzard. Because the two men were complete opposites, the setting played a significant role in this novel. The illustrator illustrated half of the page for one man and the other half for the other man because one was outspoken and the other was a quiet introvert. Initially, the males were portrayed based on their social skills. Because one of the men was chatty, they showed him entertaining everyone while the other man sat in a chair reading alone. Then came the snowstorm, and the roles were reversed; this is when the plot is heavily influenced by the surroundings. Both men were out of their environment, as the story's setting demonstrated. The talkative man was confined in the barn with the animals, and the shy man was locked inside with the audience. The book finished with the men talking about their horrific experiences and sitting on the same porch they used to sit on as boys, but now as old men.

[Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a family with young children and half of us are extroverts, half introverts... we LOVED this book and found it so charming and cute. And probably accurate, too. ;) It’s a darling, creative comparison or foil of two very different but both lovable and close grandfathers who are opposites. I would like to own a copy of this book because it’s so sweet. Cute images set in beautiful contrast and a good reminder that we are all different and that’s okay. One person’s great joy might not be the same as another’s. (For the record, I read this aloud to my 8 year old extrovert and 6 year old introvert and we all loved it and want daddy to read it, too.)

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave the rating based on how my 5-year-olds liked this book rather than how well I liked it. It took a fair bit of explaining to help them understand that although both characters agreed that the big storm was the worst, it was for very different reasons. Lines of dialogue are given without knowing who is saying what most of the time. The dialogue is one of the least fun to read (or hear) that I’ve come across, and is pretty sparse. The illustrations carry the story, along with explanation from the reader, in our case.

[Aimee Fuhrman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Limited text but detailed illustrations bring to life the huge Blizzard of 1888 that took New England by surprise and stranded many in unusual locations. I appreciate that it is the reminiscences of two elderly men. Children need to know how many rich stories are just waiting to be told by the older generations, if only we will take the time to listen.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The illustrations by S.D. Schindler are amazing and lifelike. It really tells the story in a way the kids really liked. We felt though the whole words in this book were confusing and didn't like that it was first person and yet it was not. We rather it tell a first person view from one of the Grandpas and not include the others. My kids were so confused through this whole book and didn't understand at all. I had to explain most of the book to them. I don't recommend this book

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these two personalities and how the book addressed them. It went over the heads of my kids (6yrs to 3yrs) but they enjoyed the pictures and the silly voices I used to narrate from the standpoint of two old men.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those picture books that tells a good portion of the story only through the pictures. I love that! The pictures are colorful, interesting, and fun. The story is very realistic and I could easily see such a conversation happening between my own grandfathers.

[Melissa B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. Slightly low word count-illustration balance. The story is being told by two different gentleman at the same time. This is a little hard to read to a group but is more easy to follow by the preschoolers one on one in your lap as you can talk about the back and forth.

[Joey Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a great job at conveying a message that someone’s life isn’t for everyone. I enjoy the way that this book tells the reader the message in a unique way.

Guided reading: N/A
DRA Level: N/A
Traits: voice/ organization

[Amanda Vail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great historical fiction book to teach monitoring for understanding. The storyline is a little confusing at first which lends itself to teaching monitoring strategies (rereading, reading on, etc).

[Libby Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterfully told story. Such a fun way to show kids how just because you have the same experience as someone else, doesn’t mean the memories will be the same.

And introverts vs extroverts... It’s okay to be either!

A yearly read for sure!

Recommended for 3 and up.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of friendship from childhood clear throughout adults.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

We should revisit this next winter. I don't think either child caught on the the fact that the two friends were in eachother's homes and just wishing to go back to what was most comfortable.

[Ashley Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I love snow so I am bias towards this book. Second, it was such a fun and silly read about the two gentlemen who experienced the same storm but in two different ways.

[Katie Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book with wonderful illustrations. Great example of how children can use pictures to tell what is happening within the story.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan and I loved this one! Great drawings and cute telling of 2 perspectives on being snowed in for 3 days, one in a lonely barn, another in crowded house.

[Lillian Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story of how the same storm can look different from opposing views

[Pink Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute!

[Nina]

This book was super interesting because it gave two different stories about where they were when the storm started. It was interesting to here different perspectives and experiences with this storm.

[Victoria Tromboukis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shares a funny message to kids to not go outside during a blizzard.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to show two perspectives of the same event and both MCs to be her grandfather.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly how two older men would recount a story from the past! 😂

[Hannah Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really neat. Being as it is a true story that made it even cooler but also how you find out that was the worst part of being snowed for one was the others ideal situation. You can learn its all in perspective and not everyone is the same.

[Lydia Erakare · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. This book has received the Wisconsin Library Association Outstanding Book Award (2008).

2. This book is appropriate for 1st-4th grade.

3. This book tells the story of the great blizzard of 1888. It came out of nowhere and in the middle of March! Two lifelong friends remember the blizzard each in their own way but they have one thought in common, it was terrible! Grandpa Otis was stuck in a barn all by himself for days. As a lively and social man this was terrible! While Grandpa Clark was trapped in an inn full of people for days and as a shy and private man this was - TERRIBLE! In the end they both dig themselves out and return to their comfortable lives.

4. This was a super cute story. I liked the way it told both characters stories at the same time without getting confusing or complicated. Also, the illustrator conveys human emotion on all of the faces beautifully!

5. A) This story could be used to teach students about tenses. The past and the present.

B) Another use for this story could be as a dramatic read aloud. One half of the class can play Grandpa Otis and the other half play Grandpa Clark.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

1.Kindergarten to third grade.
2. Walt and Fred are two grandfathers that are the complete opposite, however, they both endure the same terrible snowstorm that they retell to their grandchild. One grandfather is quite and likes to keep to himself, while the other is outgoing and enjoys being around others. One took shelter in a barn while the other at home.
3. "Terrible Storm" by Carol Otis Hurst shows great contrast between two different types of people: introverts and extroverts. She captures how each retell their idea of a snowstorm. Vivid illustrations are provided to grasp children's attention.
4. This book can be used to show the different types of people that may inhibit a classroom. Also, it shows how individual people interpret an event or how each event in time is viewed differently depending on the individual. Students may use this book as a seg-way into a writing assignment.

[Tim Snell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
Copyright: 2007

In March of 1888, New York City and parts of New England were hit with a terrible blizzard. It snowed and snowed and didn't let up. "Terrible Storm" tells about a person's grandfather's (one shy, one outgoing) and their experiences dealing with the terrible storm of 1888.

This book was great! The layout of the book was very good. Half of the page is dedicated to one grandpa's story, while the other half is dedicated to the others. The illustrations were comical and although the book doesn't give a lot of background information about the blizzard of 1888, it introduces it in a way that made me want to find out more.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to grade 2 students and they loved the snow pictures. I told them some blizzard stories having lived in Central and Northern Minnesota. The story follows two grandpas who were out in the blizzard and one sought shelter at a home while another found a barn. It would be interesting to pair this book with the nonfiction book, Blizzard by Jim Murphy, which gives more facts and details about the storm as well as great photos. I would like to have a discussion with grade 4 students and make a lesson with both of these books. Also, it is 90 degrees outside right now - maybe I should be reading it in the winter.