Thunder Cake

Thunder Cake
by Patricia Polacco
32 Pages

This is a story about a little girl and her grandmother that decide to bake a cake. They are not just baking any ordinary cake. They are baking Thunder Cake. The little girl is very nervous about the storm that is approaching and the grandmother explains to her that this weather is perfect weather for baking this cake. The grandmother explains to the child that when you see lightening, you are supposed to count up until you hear the thunder. This tells you how many miles away the storm is. The storm starts ten miles away. The storm grows closer as the two gather their materials to make the cake. In the end, the girl ends up not being afraid of storms anymore.

Personal Rating-5

This is another one of my favorite books because it gives the idea that everything is safe in grandma’s arms. Grandmothers just have a way about them to make everything seem less scary. I like how the grandma distracts the little girl from the storm and teaches her about the history of Thunder Cake. It is one of life’s lessons that she will remember forever and be able to share with her children and grandchildren.