Thunder Trucks

by Cheryl B. Klein, Mike Boldt

Was that a flash of lightning? A rumble of thunder?
Better get ready--there's a new crew in town!
As Bulldozer piles up clouds and Tanker Truck hauls the rain, the whole Thunder Truck gang works together to build a tremendous storm.
Brimming with energy and fun, this cheerful bedtime story is perfect for snuggling, no matter the weather.

Genres: Picture Books, Trucks, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Transport

Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2019

About the author

Cheryl B. Klein is the author of The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults, and three children's picture books: Wings, illustrated by Tomie DePaola; Thunder Trucks, cowritten with Katy Beebe and illustrated by Mike Boldt; and A Year of Everyday Wonders, illustrated by Qin Leng. In 2011, she self-published Second Sight: An Editor's Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults (now out of print). All her books draw extensively on her two decades of experience as an editor in children's and YA publishing. Among the books she has edited or co-edited are When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, winner of the Stonewall Book Award; The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas; Front Desk by Kelly Yang; The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book; the New York Times bestselling Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older; A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce, winner of the William C. Morris YA Debut Award; Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork, winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens; The Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsberg, winner of the Stonewall Award for YA Fiction; The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb, winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award; and The Snow Day by Komako Sakai, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. Cheryl has edited translations from six different languages, and she also served as the US continuity editor on the last two books of the Harry Potter series. She presently works as the editorial director at Lee & Low Books.

Since 2005, Cheryl has maintained a website for writers at http://www.cherylklein.com. Follow her on social media at @chavelaque.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Co-authors and long-time friends Cheryl Klein and Katy Beebe present an entertaining bedtime reassurance tale in this new picture-book, describing in their rhyming text how a nighttime storm is created by various Thunder Trucks. As the doughty vehicles create the rain and wind, lightning and thunder, a young boy remains snug in his bed. The book concludes with a goodnight wish for the Thunder Trucks, and a brief afterword about the science of storms...

Although truck books are not really a personal favorite of mine, there's no denying how popular they are at work, with many of our young picture-book readers and listeners. Thunder Trucks is definitely a book that will please many young fans of the form, and combines something many of them love (trucks and other construction vehicles) with something many of them might fear (loud storms). The narrative is engaging and reads well, and the accompanying artwork from illustrator Mike Boldt is boldly colorful and quite appealing. All in all, a fun little book, one I would recommend to young trucks lovers, and to anyone looking for stories to reassure children who find thunderstorms frightening.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hit in today's PreK Story Time. Kids loved identifying the trucks that help make thunderstorms. Much fun. Grabbed their attention and held it.

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Thunder Trucks offered a fun and unique perspective for storms, and really enjoyed the scientific facts mentioned at the end. The authors took the time to explain how storms really work, which was a nice contrast to their imaginative story about impossibilities in the sky.

My son isn't really afraid of storms, but one of my girls doesn't like the sound of thunder. She'll cover her ears and tell me it's too loud, and sometimes leave her hands over them for the duration of a storm. I believe she really liked thinking of thunder with this creative lens, because she's fascinated by tractors, fire trucks, etc. We'll see how this impacts future storms at our house!

I did notice that all of the characters were female, and I'm not sure if that was intentional or not. It's not a bad thing, just something I noticed while we were reading it.

Overall, I thought this was a wonderful portrayal of storms and a very simplistic view of how they work. A lot of children are afraid of the sights and sounds associated with lighting and thunder, and I think Thunder Trucks makes the phenomenon a little more lighthearted and playful.

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[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imaginative explanation for why there’s thunder in the sky (thunder trucks!) along with the real scientific explanation in the back of the book. Kids enjoyed this one. It rhymes and has a colorful band of trucks in the illustrations.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thunder Trucks by Cheryl Klein and Katy Beebe, illustratedby Mike Boldt. PICTURE BOOK. Disney, 2019. $18. 9781368024600

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Is that a storm rolling in? Yes, but it’s the Thunder Trucks who are in charge!

For little ones who are afraid of stormed, this might be a nice option to help them be amused instead of scared. I’m not a complete fan of the rhyme pattern – sometimes it reads clunky. The illustrations are gems.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whole crew of trucks up in the sky are responsible for thunder storms. Crane, dump truck, fire engine, and their friends each play a role in the events of a storm. Could be helpful for children who are afraid of thunderstorms. Luckily this doesn’t apply to my kids, which made the book a little irrelevant to us, and not as engaging as it might otherwise be. I was happy to see the back matter includes the real science behind thunderstorms (which can also be helpful in calming fears). Illustrations were just ok, my kids didn’t like that the hailstones looked like snow. Best suited for 2-4 year olds.

[Linda Wells Portman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our 6 year old and 2 year old love this book. We have read it daily for the past 3 weeks, some days probably 5 times. We had to read it on the front porch during a storm, of course. Fun characters, rhyming and action the kids love, great illustrations.

[Emily Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your kid loves trucks and loves OR hates night-time thunderstorms, this is your book! I like any story that helps kids handle scary weather and after a couple reads, my kids were chanting the chorus. Perfect for ages 1-5.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Truck lovers - story of thunderstorms made by trucks. Reminded me of Dinosaur Thunder.

[Cheryl Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is an excellent book that kids & the adults in their lives will enjoy thoroughly.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There can never be too many truck books as far as my kiddos are concerned and this one has the added bonus of being a cute take on calming a fear of storms as well.

[Darshana Khiani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a charming and imaginative book. Wonderful rhyme!
You'll never look at thunderstorms the same way again!
Perfect gift for any toddler truck-loving child!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheerful bedtime reading.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great idea! Combining the elements of a thunderstorm using trucks.

[Kelly]

A decent story. Mike Boldt's illustrations definitely help bring it to life.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice bedtime option for the truck-lover in your home.

[Debbie Tanner]

This is an adorable bedtime story that uses trucks and heavy equipment to explain weather.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter (20 mo) LOVES this book. She knows it by heart, and everytime she hears thunder (or any other noise) she says, "Thunder Trucks!"

[Laura Salas]

Great idea to combine trucks and storms!

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/17/2020 ~ You could read this as a "myth" in the way that it explains what's happening in the upper atmosphere to cause storms. I think the young readers in my library will clamor for the trucks!

[Joy Keil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real hit with my littles! My 3yo is VERY into trucks - he just loved the illustrations and the story was fun.
A fun look at a thunder storm!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rhyming in this book is really awkward but I love the concept so 4 stars

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun rhyming book about different trucks working together to create a storm. The illustrations are beautiful and the trucks have great personality. My almost 3 year old son loves this book.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay.