Island Storm

Presents the glory of shared adventure. . . . Given the book’s beauty, readers will want to “go on” right alongside them.
—The New York Times

Caldecott Medalist Floca, here taking the role of author, employs atmospheric verse to describe the children’s unaccompanied escapade. . . . Hans Christian Andersen Award recipient Smith captures the burgeoning storm’s splendid energy in broad strokes and splashes. . . .A thrilling story about how a shared exploit can deepen camaraderie and trust—and a dynamic look at the dual powers of nature and volition unleashed.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Readers will experience this tempest alongside the characters, every step of the way. Yet the true heart and soul of the book resides in the siblings’ relationship as they weather the weather—and more—together. . . .The power of nature captivates and compels in this phenomenal tale of pushing limits.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Floca’s poetic text carries all the quiet suspense and crashing weight of an approaching gale, colored by enough loving detail of setting that it finds something powerfully universal in the specific. . . . [A] moving ode to childhood, home, and sibling bonds, set to the awesome bass line of nature.
—Booklist (starred review)

Smith’s watercolor and gouache artwork complements Floca’s expressive use of onomatopoeia and alliteration.. . .The recurring refrain when the siblings hold hands, “You pull on me, I pull on you, and we decide to go on,” reflects their deep trust in each other, reassuring young readers that, even in the face of life’s storms—both literal and figurative—they do not have to face them alone.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

Floca’s writing is pure poetry; Smith’s expressionistic watercolor and gouache illustrations are utterly gorgeous; and themes of adventure and home, sibling closeness, and the majesty of nature are expertly conveyed. Picture book making at its best.
—The Horn Book (starred review)

A masterful blend of poetic language and dynamic illustration, this story delivers both an edge-of-your-seat adventure and a moving meditation on perseverance and the storms siblings weather together.
—Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Island Storm is a real adventure, portraying the threat of imminent danger in a way seldom found in picture books. . . . The narrative is a noteworthy tribute to the enduring bond between siblings, through thick and thin.
—BookPage