Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids push their limits but get home safe in exciting tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As Mom is busy dealing with laundry blown off the clothesline, two siblings, an older brother and younger sister, take off to check out the ISLAND STORM that's brewing. It seems like a great idea to walk to the cove near their house "to see the sea before the storm." They love feeling the spray of the ocean as the waves crash against the rocks below. "We stand there just to feel it all, wind, stone, wave, water!" They hold hands and keep checking in with each other: "Is this enough, or do we try for more? You pull on me, I pull on you, and we decide to go on." They keep exploring, even as the sky darkens, the wind and rain increase, and the town becomes "eerie and empty." When thunder booms they decide it's time to RUN! They take a shortcut through the woods and make it home, falling into the arms of their mother. They awake the next morning to sun and blue skies and enjoy a walk along the shore with their mom nearby.
Is It Any Good?
This thrilling, layered story of trust and testing limits captures the intoxicating excitement of independence and the awesome, sometimes scary power of nature. Island Storm is superb on many levels. Brian Floca's gentle, poetic text ("We stand on stones that lie like great bones, / weathered and worn / by water and time— / by storms like the one / that's headed our way) is perfectly paired with Sydney Smith's evocative watercolor and gouache illustrations that show the dramatically changing sky and weather. The potential peril is tempered by the hand-holding trust and communication between the sibs and the relief and forgiveness of the mom upon their return. Lots to discuss with little ones!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the excitement and danger shown in Island Storm. Have you ever been outside when the weather turned bad or scary? What happened?
What's your favorite picture in the book? Which one is the scariest? Which one is the most comforting? Why?
What do you think about the relationship between the two kids? How does the older one show compassion and take care of the younger one? How do they persevere and make it to safety?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Sydney Smith
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , STEM ( Nature )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Neal Porter Books
- Publication date : July 22, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Hardback, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : March 19, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate