An ALSC Notable Children’s Book of 2026

Published by Viking / Penguin Young Readers

Storms can be scary. All those CRACKS and CRASHES and RUMBLES! So, one young girl does what anyone would do—hides under the kitchen sink, of course.

Until her dad shows her there’s somewhere even better to go. Thunderland! Where the cocoa is hot, stuffed animal friends are waiting, and storms have names. By playing a game instead of running away, the booms of thunder and flashes of lightning become a whole lot less intimidating. So, the next time the rain rolls in and the sky starts to roar, she knows she can face her fears in Thunderland!

“Share this book for thunderous storytime applause.”―Kirkus

“[Thunderland] gives a broader basis for kiddos to follow when facing similar scares that may feel out of their control. Read this to a spooked child on a stormy night, armed with a flashlight and a comfy blanket fort.”
―Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Willis’s relatable first-person narrative offers an endearing depiction of a parent guiding their child through fear to bravery and will be a story to revisit anytime the cracks, crashes, and rumbles roll in.” ―Horn Book

“After the storm, the child promises to have Thunderland ready for Nancy’s next return; equipped with feelings of security and unshakable love, they know ‘we can bebrave and afraid all at the same time’.” ―Publisher’s Weekly