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A Voice in the Storm
With captivating illustrations, the creator of the acclaimed The Circles in the Sky tells the story of a rat who finds herself in a storm of dark emotions—and discovers the courage to open up to a friend.
The air is heavy, and it seems to Rat that the dark clouds gathering overhead echo the jumble of emotions she’s been carrying inside. Running helps, she finds, but when she bumps into a concerned friend, Rat can only run on, deeper into the rain. It’s not until the storm becomes wild and fierce and Rat is too tired to keep running that she meets a lumbering new friend who encourages her to listen for the voice in the storm—and find her own. With luminous artwork layered with pattern and color, Karl James Mountford’s hopeful story highlights the isolation that comes from grappling alone with overwhelming feelings—and the relief that may come after asking a trusted friend for help.
The air is heavy, and it seems to Rat that the dark clouds gathering overhead echo the jumble of emotions she’s been carrying inside. Running helps, she finds, but when she bumps into a concerned friend, Rat can only run on, deeper into the rain. It’s not until the storm becomes wild and fierce and Rat is too tired to keep running that she meets a lumbering new friend who encourages her to listen for the voice in the storm—and find her own. With luminous artwork layered with pattern and color, Karl James Mountford’s hopeful story highlights the isolation that comes from grappling alone with overwhelming feelings—and the relief that may come after asking a trusted friend for help.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published November 5, 2024
About the author
Karl James Mountford
73 books58 followersKarl James Mountford is an Illustrator, born in Germany and brought up in the U.K. Karl graduated in 2013 at Swansea Met Uni with a Masters degree in Illustration and Visual communication. Karl works in both traditional and digital mediums . He loves Illustration full heartedly, from picture books, writing stories, screen printing, contemporary design. His style of illustration is 'visually edible', sometimes witty, sometimes odd but always full of gusto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 19, 2024
Read for my toddler's bedtime. This story followed a rat. She's feeling sad. Jackdaw the bird worried but couldn't comfort Rat. Rat ran. She wanted fresh air. Jackdaw wanted to warn her about the rain, but Rat felt better when she ran. She ran into Hedgehog. Hedgehog gave her a concerned smile and asked after Rat. But Rat chose to run. She ran into a snake and eventually into a bear. Bear found shelter for both of them and comforted Rat and eventually took her home. Great story. Loved the illustrations!
Thank you Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review.
Thank you Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review.
June 2, 2025
My heart 😭 This is essential reading for ages 4 and up. I always respect books that address hard topics in an effective manner, and this one in particular addresses the topics of depression and self-harm in such a compassionate and age-appropriate way. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, the story and message feel very digestible for young readers.
November 22, 2024
Great, now I’m crying at work.
Why didn’t I have a book like this when I was a child suffering from depression??
All the stars.
Why didn’t I have a book like this when I was a child suffering from depression??
All the stars.
March 6, 2025
Not me crying at a picture book at 10 am on a Thursday
December 5, 2024
This book is gorgeous!
January 25, 2026
“But storms are just noise. They don’t have a voice,” said Rat, confused.
“Aren’t all voices just noise until someone listens?” Bear quipped.
We got this from the library today, and before I’d even had a chance to read it to my kids at bedtime, my daughter had apparently read it. When I grabbed it, she said, “It’s such a a great book. You definitely have to read it.”
And she was right; Everything about it is wonderful, from the gorgeous artwork to the touching story of a rat that feels depressed and overwhelmed, and her gentle, compassionate friend Bear (not that the other friends in the story aren’t kind as well, but it is Bear that ends up being able to help Rat weather her feelings).
After I finished reading it, my daughter said, “I really love that story.” Me too.
“Aren’t all voices just noise until someone listens?” Bear quipped.
We got this from the library today, and before I’d even had a chance to read it to my kids at bedtime, my daughter had apparently read it. When I grabbed it, she said, “It’s such a a great book. You definitely have to read it.”
And she was right; Everything about it is wonderful, from the gorgeous artwork to the touching story of a rat that feels depressed and overwhelmed, and her gentle, compassionate friend Bear (not that the other friends in the story aren’t kind as well, but it is Bear that ends up being able to help Rat weather her feelings).
After I finished reading it, my daughter said, “I really love that story.” Me too.
December 15, 2024
SOBBED UNCONTROLLABLY
January 6, 2025
A lovely and sensitive picture book about depression.
January 6, 2026
Striking illustrations. I love the color palette of mostly greens and purples. Bear has all the better lines: “Aren’t all voices just noise until someone listens?”
July 22, 2025
Whoa! Every home needs a copy of this book on their shelves. Every home. It's a much needed reminder that we all have storms raging inside us at times. We are not alone in that.
February 27, 2025
Wow...I could see this book being helpful for adults just as much for younger audiences. It may be a little intense/confusing for some, but for the right readers, STORM could be immensely relatable. I know I felt "heard." Gorgeous illustrations, too.
April 15, 2026
Withdrawn and weighted down by a sorrow she cannot communicate, Rat is unable to confide in her friend Jackdaw in this emotionally resonant and visually striking picture book from author/illustrator Karl James Mountford. Setting out into the midst of a storm, she runs and runs, bumping into her friend Hedgehog, and then finding herself surrounded by Snake. Almost convinced to give up, she is spurred to run on by a crack of lightning, eventually encountering Bear. This ursine friend takes Rat into his keeping, and draws her out, getting her to express her feelings, and to use the noise of the storm as a model to expel some of her grief and sorrow and rage. Eventually, Bear returns Rat to Jackdaw, and the friend embrace...
Although I have read and greatly enjoyed a number of books illustrated by Mountford—Ellie Hattie's The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth , Maudie Powell-Tuck's Last Stop on the Reindeer Express —A Voice in the Storm is the first book I have encountered where he was both author and illustrator. I found it to be absolutely lovely. I appreciated the glimpse it offered of deep, compelling and difficult-to-express negative emotions, and how it used the storm, both as metaphor and event, to explore how one might handle those emotions. I also appreciated the digitally-created artwork, with its stylized figures and gorgeous color palette, and its use of colored paper. I don't know that this quite as good as Shaun Tan's The Red Tree , which offers the best picture book exploration of depression that I've ever seen, but it is certainly outstanding in that regard, and well worth seeking out.
Although I have read and greatly enjoyed a number of books illustrated by Mountford—Ellie Hattie's The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth , Maudie Powell-Tuck's Last Stop on the Reindeer Express —A Voice in the Storm is the first book I have encountered where he was both author and illustrator. I found it to be absolutely lovely. I appreciated the glimpse it offered of deep, compelling and difficult-to-express negative emotions, and how it used the storm, both as metaphor and event, to explore how one might handle those emotions. I also appreciated the digitally-created artwork, with its stylized figures and gorgeous color palette, and its use of colored paper. I don't know that this quite as good as Shaun Tan's The Red Tree , which offers the best picture book exploration of depression that I've ever seen, but it is certainly outstanding in that regard, and well worth seeking out.
January 18, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This is one of those books that I'm not sure of the audience. I don't think most lower elementary students or younger would "get" a lot of this book, but I do think it could be good to share it with an upper elementary student or older (some teens and adults may benefit from reading it or it being read to them as well).
There are some comments by people who had depression when they were children and they wish that they would have had a book like this when they were younger because it would have helped them feel seen and would have helped them understand what they were feeling.
It's really hard to think of any child contemplating suicide, but I know some of them do, and this hints at that, "The lightning and thunder were overwhelming. Rat froze in fear and curled up into a ball. She was too scared to move even a whisker. Then, somewhere in the raging storm, a soothing, hypnotic voice hissed to her. 'Little Rat. This is not a ssssafe place to shelter. Climb into my mouth. I'll keep you ssssafe from the sssstorm.' Weary and confused, Rat thought about stepping toward the Snake's open jaws." Thankfully, I've never been too close to suicide, but I can understand how, when a storm is raging in your mind, when the world seems overwhelming and LOUD, the promise of it stopping could tempt you to step into a snake's waiting jaws. *Spoiler* Thankfully, the Rat finds another voice to listen to, one that is much more helpful (I think hinting at a mental health professional).
As far as books where the illustrations were created completely digitally, this is one of the prettiest I've seen. Not only is the color palate beautiful but the design/style of the illustrations is quite unique and lovely (though the style does vaguely remind me of some Native American work or something else I've seen before).
This is one of those books that I'm not sure of the audience. I don't think most lower elementary students or younger would "get" a lot of this book, but I do think it could be good to share it with an upper elementary student or older (some teens and adults may benefit from reading it or it being read to them as well).
There are some comments by people who had depression when they were children and they wish that they would have had a book like this when they were younger because it would have helped them feel seen and would have helped them understand what they were feeling.
It's really hard to think of any child contemplating suicide, but I know some of them do, and this hints at that, "The lightning and thunder were overwhelming. Rat froze in fear and curled up into a ball. She was too scared to move even a whisker. Then, somewhere in the raging storm, a soothing, hypnotic voice hissed to her. 'Little Rat. This is not a ssssafe place to shelter. Climb into my mouth. I'll keep you ssssafe from the sssstorm.' Weary and confused, Rat thought about stepping toward the Snake's open jaws." Thankfully, I've never been too close to suicide, but I can understand how, when a storm is raging in your mind, when the world seems overwhelming and LOUD, the promise of it stopping could tempt you to step into a snake's waiting jaws. *Spoiler* Thankfully, the Rat finds another voice to listen to, one that is much more helpful (I think hinting at a mental health professional).
As far as books where the illustrations were created completely digitally, this is one of the prettiest I've seen. Not only is the color palate beautiful but the design/style of the illustrations is quite unique and lovely (though the style does vaguely remind me of some Native American work or something else I've seen before).
June 16, 2025
I love books that begin before the title page, and this one does with the words 'The air had been dank and heavy all day'. Underneath, a beautiful and yet curious illustration captures a moment, as if in slow motion; raindrops bounce and drip and a snail leads us onwards. I knew I was hooked by this book already.
The illustrations use a dark palette of blacks, greys, purples and sage green, perfectly reflecting the feelings and emotions of anyone who may be carrying a storm, troubled, worried or disolutioned. Despite their heavy mood, they are also delicate, detailed, light and intriguing. They cause you to stop and look closely, noticing movement, expressions and artistic effects that reveal hope and light. Pick out the use of white.
It isn't often you become endeared to a rat in a story, and as you hear her words of anguish, so wish to help her. Concern and support, gentle encouragement and care come through the beautiful words of her friends and advocates. The storm's metaphor for rat's emotional distress is articulated simply but profoundly, poetically, 'aren't all voices just noise until someone listens?' Talk, little rat, talk.
Perfect, poignant and deeply satisfying.
The illustrations use a dark palette of blacks, greys, purples and sage green, perfectly reflecting the feelings and emotions of anyone who may be carrying a storm, troubled, worried or disolutioned. Despite their heavy mood, they are also delicate, detailed, light and intriguing. They cause you to stop and look closely, noticing movement, expressions and artistic effects that reveal hope and light. Pick out the use of white.
It isn't often you become endeared to a rat in a story, and as you hear her words of anguish, so wish to help her. Concern and support, gentle encouragement and care come through the beautiful words of her friends and advocates. The storm's metaphor for rat's emotional distress is articulated simply but profoundly, poetically, 'aren't all voices just noise until someone listens?' Talk, little rat, talk.
Perfect, poignant and deeply satisfying.
December 9, 2024
Jackdaw is worried about their friend Rat. Rat hasn’t been herself lately, instead acting very quiet and withdrawn. And to make matters worse, a big storm is brewing. Rat runs away because she’s sad and confused. She runs right into the storm. At one point Rat almost allows a snake to eat her but realizes this won’t help her. She then runs, literally, into Bear who understands Rat and helps her. Together they weather the storms, the one outside and the one inside.
What seems to be a children’s picture book, is a story about opening up and asking for help when we are sad or depressed. Mountford portrays asking for help as brave, and lets readers know that our friends and family are always there and willing to help. This is much more than just a picture book.
The illustrations are unique in color and style–purples, blues and greens, sharp edges, and fantastical fauna. The author/illustrator has a very distinctive style that is both eye-catching and soothing. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
What seems to be a children’s picture book, is a story about opening up and asking for help when we are sad or depressed. Mountford portrays asking for help as brave, and lets readers know that our friends and family are always there and willing to help. This is much more than just a picture book.
The illustrations are unique in color and style–purples, blues and greens, sharp edges, and fantastical fauna. The author/illustrator has a very distinctive style that is both eye-catching and soothing. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
October 30, 2024
Emotions are sometimes hard to express or handle. In this visually-unique picture book [3.5 for me!], filled with abundant appropriately dark, stormy scenes rendered through digital artwork, one animal--Rat--feels overburdened with feelings. Even though Jackdaw extends a helping hand, offering to listen, Rat initially refuses, instead rushing off into the approaching storm. After running into several other animals, Rat finds help through Bear's suggestions to let those emotions out, to shout, to cry, and to talk to someone who cares, all great advice. Not surprisingly, when Rat reaches out to Jackdaw, his friend is ready to listen. That voice in the storm ended up being quite helpful. Educators and parents might choose to share this picture book to a child in need of self-regulations or an outlet for emotions or to an entire class so that they'll be open to listening to the concerns of their classmates and be more empathetic.
Read
April 10, 2024Wanting to escape her sadness and despair, the rat runs through the storm until it can't move. A bear helps the rat understand the importance of asking for help in challenging times.
A Voice in the Storm sparks conversations about emotional well-being, depression, resilience, finding strength, and the complexities of mental health.
Discussion Questions
1. How does A Voice in the Storm explore the theme of dealing with difficult emotions?
2. What do you learn about the rat's character from her journey through the storm?
3. How does the book portray the concept of resilience?
4. Why do you think finding your voice during difficult times is important?
5. How does the story inspire you to handle emotional turmoil?
6. What lessons can we learn from the rat's experience in the storm?
7. How do the illustrations enhance your understanding of the book?
A Voice in the Storm sparks conversations about emotional well-being, depression, resilience, finding strength, and the complexities of mental health.
Discussion Questions
1. How does A Voice in the Storm explore the theme of dealing with difficult emotions?
2. What do you learn about the rat's character from her journey through the storm?
3. How does the book portray the concept of resilience?
4. Why do you think finding your voice during difficult times is important?
5. How does the story inspire you to handle emotional turmoil?
6. What lessons can we learn from the rat's experience in the storm?
7. How do the illustrations enhance your understanding of the book?
December 27, 2024
Every once in a while, you come across one of those picture books that you have to share with all of your coworkers. That is this book for me.
My goodness. Calling this for ages three to seven is interesting because it is long. It has deep subject matter (I'd argue there is a reference to suicide). But it is in the same vein, dare I say better, than 'The Rabbit Listened." It gives a word, a voice, to those moments when depression and emotions are too much. It's finding that friend who will listen, which is sometimes a stranger. It's finding that friend who will never give up on us.
Adding to my must buy collection
My goodness. Calling this for ages three to seven is interesting because it is long. It has deep subject matter (I'd argue there is a reference to suicide). But it is in the same vein, dare I say better, than 'The Rabbit Listened." It gives a word, a voice, to those moments when depression and emotions are too much. It's finding that friend who will listen, which is sometimes a stranger. It's finding that friend who will never give up on us.
Adding to my must buy collection
January 23, 2025
Absolutely gorgeous illustrations. Rat's feelings and anguish are mirrored in the intensity of the storm.
The text does a great job of explaining the complex feelings of depression and anxiety, though some parts may be over the head of our youngest readers.
Share with kiddos experiencing depression, anxiety, and other complex feelings or with kids who have a parent, sibling, etc. dealing with mental health issues.
The text does a great job of explaining the complex feelings of depression and anxiety, though some parts may be over the head of our youngest readers.
Share with kiddos experiencing depression, anxiety, and other complex feelings or with kids who have a parent, sibling, etc. dealing with mental health issues.
April 16, 2025
This is one of the most important and beautiful (in every way) picture books I've ever read. It had me sobbing at my desk at work in the best way possible. I want to buy thousands of copies of this book and give it to everyone in my life. As it is I will definitely be having many storytimes with this book before I return it to the library. Thank you, Earl James Mountford, for this gift of a book.
April 30, 2025
This book's author/illustrator, Karl James Mountford, has yet again made an extraordinarily difficult subject matter understandable for a young audience, this time discussing depression. And his illustrations are so incredibly beautiful and well thought out, from the introduction to the pink as hope emerges to the ongoing motif of circles throughout. I can't wait to read the next book he puts out into the world!
October 16, 2024
Candlewick Studio is publishing the most remarkable books. A Voice in the Storm is about a rat dealing with depression. The book is a hopeful one and created with layers of color and patterns. A Voice in the Storm is luminous. Absolutely stunning. An important, beautiful book for every library collection.
December 27, 2024
A true 3.5 since the art was beautiful, the message well done, but i felt it was repetitive in some spots. It makes sense of course, its a children's book, but i felt it didn't lend itself well to the repeating. Otherwise, it was very good and on the nose! Important for anyone, especially children, to understand how/why they feel or what others are going through.
February 6, 2026
The artwork alone was well worth reading this wonderful children's book. Its a story about a rat who is sad and doesn't want to talk about it with the other animals. She gets caught in a bad thunderstorm and meets other animals along the way. Will she find shelter from the storm? Will she be able to relive her stress to her friends? Just a great book and a good read.
December 10, 2024
Truly wonderful book with an inspirational message, cute story, and elegant illustration. I will certainly be using this to help my kiddos, myself, and my clients understand 'the storm' that can rage inside us a little bit better.
December 12, 2024
A picture book for all ages. This is a simple, effective description of depression and what it feels like. It also uses the story to teach how to help yourself, and to not be afraid to ask for help and support.
February 20, 2025
An excellent book about putting words to depression, as likened to a storm. Bear gives Rat the space and support he needs to find his voice. Excellent. Great for parents, councilors and teachers alike.
February 28, 2025
Man the art style in this is stunning, I want to stitch in this style all the hekkin time argh
Also this is one of those children's books that is just as beneficial for adults. Oof.
"Aren't all voices just noise until someone listens?"
Also this is one of those children's books that is just as beneficial for adults. Oof.
"Aren't all voices just noise until someone listens?"
August 11, 2025
First of all, the illustrations in this book are just divine! Absolutely stunning. Keep an eye out for the snail! Second of all, this is a least patronising children's book about mental health. It is so well told, I was in tears reading it. I feel all of this. Beautiful!
March 8, 2026
Quite impressive. Love the message of this story. It's serious, relateable, and important - for everyone. Written so eloquently. And I also am keen on the style and limited color palette of the illustrations. Wow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews