Parents' Guide to

Boom! Boom! Boom!

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 2+

Snuggly story of getting cozy to cope with nighttime fears.

Book Jamie A. Swenson Picture Book 2013
Boom! Boom! Boom! Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

On a stormy night, a little boy is content in bed with his book and teddy bear. His frightened dog scurries in with a blanket, and the boy invites his pet to snuggle in bed with him. With each crash of lightning and thundering boom, more animals seek comfort in his bed: a cat, a guinea pig, a frog, a parrot, and a snake. The bed is crowded -- and uncomfortable -- by the time the boy's sister runs in. \"Enough!\" the boy cries, worried his own teddy bear will get squished out. \"You have your own room!\" She leaps in anyway, and his bed collapses. The boy is finally left alone to sleep with his book and bear.

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! is a sweet-hearted bedtime book with layers of fun. It's a great choice for children coping with nighttime fears. Readers can count (and giggle at) the growing menagerie. Jamie A. Swenson's repetitive, rhyming text match the comforting tone of David Walker's charming illustrations.
The only sour note is the abrupt change of tone when the boy's sister strides in, looking for space. Her brother rather harshly tells her to go back to her own room. It's an unfortunate direction after the boy so graciously accommodated six household pets.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about feeling scared. What helps you feel better when you're scared?
  • The little boy is already feeling squished when his sister asks to climb into bed, too. He says there's no room -- and he's proven right. What could he have done to help his sister and keep his bed from getting too full?

Book Details

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