Thunderland

by Maggie Edkins Willis

One nervous girl learns how to take something scary and make it fun, in the tradition of Thunder Cake and Everything Will Be OK.

Storms can be scary. All those CRACKS and CRASHES and RUMBLES! So, one young girl does what anyone would do—hides under the kitchen sink, of course.

Until her dad shows her there’s somewhere even better to go. Thunderland! Where the cocoa is hot, stuffed animal friends are waiting, and storms have names. By playing a game instead of running away, the booms of thunder and flashes of lightning become a whole lot less intimidating. So, the next time the rain rolls in and the sky starts to roar, she knows she can face her fears in Thunderland!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Family, Nature, Emotion

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2025

About the author

Maggie Edkins Willis grew up on the southern coast of Maine and studied design and art history at Penn. For seven years, she worked in-house for two major children’s publishers, designing, art directing, and illustrating dozens of covers. She worked on Newbery Medal-winners, Printz Honor recipients, a National Book Award shortlisted title, and numerous New York Times bestsellers.

A full-time author/illustrator, Maggie lives in New Jersey with her family.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some books always seem like they’re more for the parents than the kids and this is by far one of them! The dad really tries to help concur his daughter’s fear of the storm by making it a fun adventure to a new land that only appears during thunder storms. In the end the little girl misses the storm. Mostly this is due to great parenting on her dad’s part and just overall being encouraged and nurtured along the right path. The illustrations are pretty cool. Overall, giving this one 3/5 stars ⭐️ and would recommend for ages 3 and up!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: I don't like it when its storms. I don't like the inky clouds or the howling winds or the scary shapes in the shadows. I don't like the cracks and the crashes and the rumbles.

Premise/plot: A young girl is frightened by a storm and her dad comforts her by telling her stories about the storm.

My thoughts: I like this one okay. It's fine. I do think it's good to have picture books with good father figures. And it's sweet how he is able to comfort, distract, and entertain. It's a fun and playful book about a common enough fear. I can't imagine anyone *wanting* to hide under a kitchen sink in a storm but that is probably just overthinking on my part!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don't like when it storms. I don't like the inky clouds or the howling winds or the scary shapes in the shadows. I don't like the cracks and the crashes and the rumbles." The protagonist of this book and my five year old have a lot in common. I love how this book offers strategies and a mindset shift when a storm comes. This book is great for the average thunderstorm, and doesn't necessarily provide practical advice for when families face more destructive/devastating storms (which we are seeing more and more).

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

Thunder can be very scary but Dad never seems scared of it. Like a roller-coaster, sometimes it can be fun to be scared and brave at the same time. I love the production that Dad goes to to help his daughter have fun during the storm, so much so that she even misses it a little. A great book to help with dealing with thunder and learning that being brave doesn’t mean letting go of your fear but embracing it.

[Ellon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars (I loved it)

I'm having a great reading morning!

This is a lovely story about a girl who is afraid of a thunderstorm and her dad who helps her embrace the storm (and end up liking it). The love between dad and kid shine through. I can see this book being helpful for kids who are also afraid of storms.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, fun way to share and process a stormy night with a little one who'd rather it just go away.
I feel like this book would work better as a lap sit than in a library storytime or classroom.

PS: I've never met a storm named Nancy until this book...or one who liked cookies!

Themes: nature, family, emotions
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2025

[Sarah BT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had had this book when my child was younger and scared of storms. It's a beautiful and gentle story about storms and fear. It's also charming and funny and it balances the wonderment of weather with the fear. I love the line about how they can be brave and afraid at the same time.

[Petraq · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I am always a sucker for parent child relationships in books, and this was such a great picture book about not being afraid of storms anymore. I also liked the illustrations and enjoyed seeing the dad offering support to his daughter so she could get rid of her fear of storms.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would make a good story time book for a rainy day theme, with its large, appealing cartoon illustrations. It would be fun to have the kids roar and boom at the storm along with the dad and daughter in the story.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that teaches you that you can be brave and afraid at the same time. A great lesson on facing your fears and making them less scary by thinking about them in a different way.

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book about a girl overcoming her fear of storms. Plus it’s a great example of Onomatopoeia

[Milagros Ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid who was (still is) scared of thunder storms this is a great story that can help parents talk about the fear and give them ideas on how to get through the night like the dad did.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

a sweet story about facing a fear of storms by getting all cozy and going to Thunderland

[Y.Poston]

Beautiful exploration of thunderstorms,
delightful child & dad romp

[Rolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute and sweet book about how an anxious kiddo can learn to be okay during thunderstorms.

[PottWab Regional Library]

O

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really fun and a great idea on how to help kids reframe fear. Loved it.

[Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can see parents and librarians liking this one. I do like the relationship between the father. We need rain so much in Colorado, I'm yelling "Come back, Nancy!"

[taylor hagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this book a week after my auntie nancy died. it made me laugh, think about nancy as the storm and the sun.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the style and perspectives of the illustrations. What a fun way to help kids deal with storms and fear in general. Instead of hiding and cowering, we can turn it into a positive experience.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice but didn't love it

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl is scared of storms but her father gives her the tools to deal with a particularly nervewracking bout of thunder and rain which comes her way. He invites her to join him in Thunderland - a place where they don’t hide from the storm but invite it in and ask it questions. Her father deals with her nervousness in a particular Bluey’s Dad sort of way, and he gets her to ask the storm questions, give the storm a name, and they cozy up with cookies and stuffed animals. This book is particularly charming in its redirection and dealing with a problem from a different point of view, as well as having absolutely gorgeous artwork. I love this title and can’t wait to buy it for our school library! So adorable!