Unit 2 Review - The Story of Lightning and Thunder

 

Bibliographic Information

Bryan, Ashley. 1993. THE STORY OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER. Ill. by Ashley Bryan. New York: Simon & Schuster Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-689-31836-7

Plot Summary

In this retelling of a West African tale, Ma Sheep Thunder and her impetuous son Ram Lightning are forced to leave their home on Earth because of the trouble Ram causes.

Critical Analysis

In this folklore, The Story of Lightning and Thunder, based on Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria, West Africa, by Elphinstone Dayrell, Ashley Bryan retells a story about a mother sheep, Thunder, and her son ram, Lightning. In a story told in third person, it seems as if the author is speaking directly to the reader, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the words and beautiful illustrations. At the beginning of this tale, Ma Sheep Thunder and Son Ram Lightning lived in a village of Alkebu-lan, called Africa today. The villagers were happy to have both in their villages, and they would call them whenever there was a drought to ask for rain. They both worked hard to please the people, but there were some problems with Lightning misbehaving. One day, Lightning created a disaster and set fire to the villager’s crops. Thunder and Lightning were punished by being exiled from the earth and were banished to live their lives in the sky, which is where they remain to this day. 

This story has a sing-song quality to it, a rhythm that you feel as you read. “They watched the flow, the come and the go…” The many uses of figurative language in the text are music to read-aloud ears (alliteration, onomatopoeias, personification). While the message of the story was a little difficult to understand (most likely that there are consequences to your actions), it is still a great jumping off point for discussions about cause and effect. This was a little bit of a longer story, with my four year old losing interest about half way through, so it is more suitable for older audiences. The illustrations in this book, created from vegetable oil based inks, are absolutely beautiful and incredibly vibrant. They reflect artwork and traditional cultures in Africa, and reflect the energy and high excitement throughout the story. I especially appreciated the beautiful colors throughout the coat of son ram Lightning, with different colors showing different bursts of light that changed throughout the pages. Overall, this is a beautifully told story that teaches a valuable lesson and I believe any young folktale lover would enjoy it. 

Awards Won & Review Excerpt(s)

*Publisher’s Weekly - Joyful in both word and palette, this African story tells why lightning and thunder reside in the sky and not on earth, as they once did. Ma Sheep Thunder and Son Ram Lightning live in an African village, summoning Rain by racing through the mountains at the King's request. But Son Ram Lightning gets into mischief--butting people, munching on straw hats in the marketplace, and accidentally setting a fire. The exasperated King finally banishes mother and son to the sky, where they live today except for occasional earthly forays in which frisky Lightning strikes anything in his path and his mother runs after him, calling him back home. Bryan takes a highly conversational, genial tone, with frequent interjections of "uh-huh" and "uh-uh," that quickly develops camaraderie between the reader, the narrator, the spirited ram, and his frazzled mother.

*Kirkus Reviews - A delightful adaptation of a Nigerian folktale about ``Ma Sheep Thunder'' and her ``Son Ram Lightning,'' who live in a village where the people rely on them to call their friend Rain down from the clouds over the mountain. But Son Ram Lightning is so unruly that the King exiles the pair to a faraway home in the sky, from which Lightning still sometimes streaks wildly back to earth, striking anything in his path, while his mother follows behind and calls him back in her rumbling voice. Written to be read aloud (perhaps to a rambunctious child), with bits of rhyme and unexpected wordplay--the King scolds Lightning: ``It is an outrage at your age to go on such a rampage!'' There is one of Bryan's uniquely vibrant, swirling, light-filled paintings on every page.

Connections

*Add this book into a unit about weather. 

*Children could draw their own versions of how they believe the mother and son interact in the stormy sky. Additionally, they could brainstorm, write, and discuss instances that would create an environment of rain, thunder and lightning -- in terms of mischief caused by the son and the mother's reaction.

*Read other novels depicting how your actions impact others:

Ludwig, Trudy. THE INVISIBLE BOY. ISBN 1582464502

Munson, Derek. ENEMY PIE. ISBN 978-0811827782

Javernick, Ellen. WHAT IF EVERYBODY DID THAT? ISBN 0761456864