The Story of Lightning and Thunder

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryan, Ashley. 1993.  The Story of Lightning and Thunder.  Ill. by Ashley Bryan. New York, NY:  Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-689-31836-7.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

The Story of Lightning and Thunder, a retelling of a Nigerian folktale, begins with Ma Sheep Thunder and Son Ram Lightning enjoying village life among people in Alkebu-lan (now Africa). Ma and Son were highly esteemed since they would call their friend, Rain, to water the people’s crops. Ma tries to raise her boy well, with admonitions like, “Use your head”, “If one way doesn’t work out, try another” and “Listen to me, I am your mother.” But Son Ram answers, “I hear you, I hear you!” and obeys in his own way, with unintended consequences and trouble. His impetuous ways result in their banishment, first to the edge of the village and then to the center of the forest. Trying to be a hero, Son “biff, bops” an ox in the farmer’s field, and in fear, runs away, causing a fire which destroys the crops. The King banishes them from the earth to the sky where they live today. Son still gets away from home even today, returns to earth and streaks lightning, causing trouble. Ma calls after him but he does not always listen.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Bryan has again produced a folktale that speaks to children in a conversational, easy manner they can relate to. His pour quoi folktale, The Story of Lightning and Thunder, explains the origin of the weather effects while also giving a few life lessons. Based on a folktale from Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria, West Africa, by Elphinstone Dayrell (London: Longmans Green, 1910), 70-71, as cited on the copyright page, the story has been slightly changed from the original, tamed, with the omission of killing people. Also, in Bryan’s version, the Ram acts not out of bad temper, but rather childish impetuousness. Bryan shows the consequences of not listening to your elders. Repetitive parental phrases from Ma, like, “Listen to me” and “Use your head” and the responses of “I hear you, I hear you!” from Son reflect typical everyday conversations between parents and children. Further admonitions and the use of proverbs by the King reinforce the authority of grownups. Dramatic tension builds between those who wish for Son to obey and Son, who wishes to do things his own way. Bryan expresses Son’s disobedience using onomatopoeia words, such as “biff, bam, butt”, which lead to humorous wordplays, such as Ma’s rebuke, “Whatever you do, no more biff, bam, butts out of you!” Even Ma’s use of “Baa-ba-lam” adds humor and irony to the story making it a delight to listen to and read, teaching children a moral lesson without being heavy-handed. Bryan’s lyrical, flowing prose is punctuated with several well-placed Uh-huh’s to keep attention, making the act of reading the story like listening to a storyteller. The clever last line of “I know somebody like that too, uh-huh, I do, but I’m not saying who” ensures that children know who the author is referring to.

Ashley Bryan’s bright, colorful illustrations convey energy and emotion, reflecting pride, joy, anger, contentment, surprise, playfulness, shock, sorrow, and dismay, working with the story to help children understand better the whole range of human emotions. The King is proud of Ma Thunder sheep and Son Lightning Ram’s accomplishment in bringing Rain, but later, readers can see the King’s wrath at having the crop lands destroyed. The characters display the full range of emotional responses, with the exception of remorse on the part of Son, to things that happen in everyone’s life, including those unexpected consequences from misbehavior. The stained glass-like watercolor illustrations are vibrant, visually representing the force of thunder and the spark of lightning, complementing the story while adding a visual dimension to the power of Bryan’s words.

Appropriate for self-readers in 2^nd through 5^th grade, as it is a bit too long for a beginner reader to conquer on their own, The Story of Lightning and Thunder is perfect for a read-aloud.   

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist review: “The text has music and style and moves along quickly, thanks to the humor inherent in the exploits of the rambunctious ram...This is a solid title for reading aloud that will appeal to a wide age range.”

Publisher’s Weekly review: "Joyful in both word and palette, this African story tells why lightning and thunder reside in the sky and not on earth, as they once did.”

Kirkus Reviews: “A delightful adaptation of a Nigerian folktale…Written to be read aloud (perhaps to a rambunctious child), with bits of rhyme and unexpected wordplay… There is one of Bryan's uniquely vibrant, swirling, light-filled paintings on every page.” 

5. CONNECTIONS

*Explore the real reasons and science behind thunder and lightning. Have children draw pictures to illustrate storms. They could even share their own stories of storms. Discuss why folktales were used to explain weather phenomena.

*Act out the story with an informal reader’s theater. Everyone can participate as the story calls for villagers as well. Consider adding a few extra lines to allow villagers to express their feelings about what has happened in their village and their crop lands. Be sure to vocalize, or use noisemakers to recreate, the sounds of the book, such as the “Moorow!” of the Ox, the sound of thunder, the crackle of the fire, the woes of the villagers, etcetera.

*Other books involving lightning and thunder include:

Branley, Franklyn. Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll. ISBN 978-006-445179-6

Polacco, Patricia. Thunder Cake.  ISBN 978-069-811581-1

Schmith, JD. Thunder and Lightning: They’re Not So Frightening. ISBN978-141-205631-1

Zolotow, Charlotte, The Storm Book. ISBN  978-006-443194-1