Hurricane by David Wiesner

Hurricane by David Wiesner (P: 1990)

"Natural disasters that one survives are usually among the best-remembered signposts of childhood", and Weisner uses this natural disaster to create a fun and exciting tale, based loosely on an experience of he and his brother had growing up. Even down the very detail of the wallpaper found on page thirteen in this highly autobiographical book.

Wiesner, captures perfectly the aura of a giant storm from a child’s perspective. When the lights go out and the family is together around the flickering fire place in a darkened room, it felt safe with everybody together, 'even though there were creaks and groans and sometimes great roaring sounds coming from outside.'

And as the storm is in full swing, it knocks a tree down in a neighbour's yard which leads to a great adventure of imagination. In Hurricane, we see the boy’s fantasies as they play on the large fallen tree. “Realism gives way to fantasy once the two boys in the family enter the post-hurricane yard the next day.”

The illustrations are FANTASTIC, being of high modality, which essentially means, they are like photo-realism, which Wiesner is well known for. His detailing in all parts of the picture, down to a tin of tuna for the cat, or, as I said before, the mundaneness of wall paper. Wiesner's use of the play of light (Illumination) is also expertly executed.

An impressive read (both verbally and visually) for children aged 6 - 12 years old. Not scary, but highly charged as the storm rages. A great tale of fun, playfulness and imagination.