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Percy the Park Keeper
After the Storm
A storm is raging through the park causing Percy, the park keeper, to have a sleepless night worrying about the damage being done to his beloved park. When he gets up the next morning he finds the old oak tree has been blown down. This is a disaster for all his animal friends who used the tree as their home. Fortunately, Percy is on hand to help find them a new place to live.
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24954...
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24954...
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 1992
2 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Nick Butterworth
391 books46 followersNick Butterworth was born in London and grew up in a sweet shop in Essex. He worked for various major graphic design companies before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. Among his picture books are Thud!, QPootle5, Jingle Bells, Albert le Blanc, Tiger and The Whisperer, winner of the Nestlé Gold Award. But he is best known for his stories about Percy the Park Keeper, which have sold more than 9 million copies worldwide. Percy has also appeared in his own television series.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 28, 2020
My Mother And I Read This Book With The Audio Tape With The Late Richard Briers Narrating, We love Percy the Park keeper and this lovely story of how he helps the animals in the park find new homes after the storm wrecks their original homes is just gorgeous. The pictures and story are really well done and just another great item to the Percy collection.
January 7, 2022
A wonderful story with beautiful illustrations. I do wonder though whether it risks raising children’s hopes about the ease of teaching woodland creatures to use carpentry tools…
October 13, 2012
I used to love the Nick Butterworth books as a child, reading them with my parents or flicking through the pictures by myself. To write this review, I went into the loft to find all my childhood books, and seeing them brought back some fond memories.
'After the storm' follows Percy the Park Keeper and his woodland animal friends after a very windy storm. The storm caused great damage in the park, including a big oak tree that had been blown over. This tree was the home of Percy's favourite animals. The group then set out to find a new home for the animals. Exploring different habitats, there is great use of description.
The end of the story describes the animals and Percy building their home. Butterworth chooses not to tell the reader what exactly they are doing, instead collating an image through snapshots of information and pictures. The last pages show all the individual animals in their new homes, concluding in a fold-out picture of the new tree house including all the animals.
The paintings are really beautiful and expressive. The imagery explains the story as well as the text. I remember being mesmirised by the colours. The final fold-out picture is my favourite in the book, there is so much to visually explore. I used to love spotting the different animals in their glorious tree house, its very 'Swiss Family Robinson'. Its a nice activity to share with an adult finding all the different animals.
This story teaches about animals and their habitats and how important it is to protect the environment. Importantly, the story is about friendship and working together as a team. These messages are very valuable to a child. As a child, I was engaged through the use of animals and the pictures.
I would recommend this story for Foundation and Key Stage 1 children.
'After the storm' follows Percy the Park Keeper and his woodland animal friends after a very windy storm. The storm caused great damage in the park, including a big oak tree that had been blown over. This tree was the home of Percy's favourite animals. The group then set out to find a new home for the animals. Exploring different habitats, there is great use of description.
The end of the story describes the animals and Percy building their home. Butterworth chooses not to tell the reader what exactly they are doing, instead collating an image through snapshots of information and pictures. The last pages show all the individual animals in their new homes, concluding in a fold-out picture of the new tree house including all the animals.
The paintings are really beautiful and expressive. The imagery explains the story as well as the text. I remember being mesmirised by the colours. The final fold-out picture is my favourite in the book, there is so much to visually explore. I used to love spotting the different animals in their glorious tree house, its very 'Swiss Family Robinson'. Its a nice activity to share with an adult finding all the different animals.
This story teaches about animals and their habitats and how important it is to protect the environment. Importantly, the story is about friendship and working together as a team. These messages are very valuable to a child. As a child, I was engaged through the use of animals and the pictures.
I would recommend this story for Foundation and Key Stage 1 children.
August 24, 2012
After The Storm is a picture book written by Nick Butterworth. The story follows a park keeper who is friends with the animals in his park. However there is a storm and a huge tree is knocked over. To make matter worse that tree was the home of all the animals. So Percy (the keeper) sets off with the animals to find them a new home. At the end of the book Percy and the animals build a new home after mishap (falling off a bridge) and adventure.
I have picked this book out for special attention as there are many underlying themes throughout the story that either a TA or the teacher could read to the class or individual. For example after the storm Percy doesn't just wonder around he gets together a wheelbarrow and lots of tools ready to repair any damage that might have happened. Percy is also shown as a good friend as he listens to and helps the animals find and build a new home.
After The Storm could be read from a KS1 class and up. The pupils could write about an example in their life when they have been a good friend or when being prepared has helped them. They could also draw a picture of what they think the new home for the animals looks like using the images from the book as a cue, group work on the carpet would probably be best for this.
I have picked this book out for special attention as there are many underlying themes throughout the story that either a TA or the teacher could read to the class or individual. For example after the storm Percy doesn't just wonder around he gets together a wheelbarrow and lots of tools ready to repair any damage that might have happened. Percy is also shown as a good friend as he listens to and helps the animals find and build a new home.
After The Storm could be read from a KS1 class and up. The pupils could write about an example in their life when they have been a good friend or when being prepared has helped them. They could also draw a picture of what they think the new home for the animals looks like using the images from the book as a cue, group work on the carpet would probably be best for this.
July 6, 2019
Very sweet though totally unrealistic
January 2, 2021
An excellent story about the unpredictable side of nature and how it affects animals and their habitats. Lots of fun characters, descriptions and detailed pictures.
April 12, 2025
With more and more storms coming our way in our rural communities, this is the perfect book to show animals and their homes and rebuilding habitat.... There's a magical poster, too, for hanging and pondering...
February 27, 2017
We just love Percy the park keeper books.
November 14, 2018
Great book and used as a topic book in a reception class as there is so much you can do with it. We designed and made houses for the animals when they were homeless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2023
A sentimental favourite. The beautiful pull out tree house illustration at the back is also a lovely bonus (if your kids don't rip it to shreds with their love) 💕
January 20, 2023
A sweet short story whimsical story of a gardener and his friends.
October 14, 2024
Просто про допомогу, любов до природи і звірів, про веселощі. Великі ілюстрації, гарні великі розвороти із завданнями в кінці книги. Діти в 3-4 роки сприймали
September 25, 2025
Nick Butterworth has a fun way of taking a mishap and turning it into an adventure. I would never expect a wheelbarrow to become a boat! His animal illustrations are always so rich and fun.
November 26, 2025
When you turn to the final page, and there's a 4-leaflet high fold out poster of the Great Oak tree in radiant glory, reoccupied by all the industrious forest-kin...
...that part absolutely slapped, mah man!
...that part absolutely slapped, mah man!
January 18, 2025
Percy, the park keeper, went out to clean up after a storm. When he discovered that the animals’ tree had blown down, he had to find somewhere else for them all to live. After an upsetting incident, he found just the place for them. This is such a sweet story and very beautifully illustrated.
March 24, 2008
After the storm knocks down a tree, Percy has to help his friends find new homes.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews