The Story of Lightning & Thunder (Review by Leighanne Massey)
Bibliography
Bryan, Ashley. The Story of Lightning & Thunder. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1993. ISBN 0689318367
Plot Summary
Once upon a time in an African folktale, lightning and thunder used to live on Earth before they were banished solely to the sky. They lived as Ma Sheep and Son Ram Lightning in a small village on Alkebulan. They enjoyed the people of the village and whenever they were called on to help make it rain, Ma Sheep and Son Ram Lightning would run to the highest mountains in an effort to get Rain's attention. Once it started pouring, the people of the village would celebrate the survival of their crops.
Come time for the harvest celebration, Ma Sheep's son wanted to show the King his horns against the advisement of his mother to remain close to her. In a brash movement, Son Ram charged through the crowd sending people flying or falling to the ground. The King was outraged at Son Ram's behavior and subsequently moved Ma Sheep and Son Ram away from the village. Each time Ma Sheep cautioned her son, it seemed he got himself into more trouble. Farther and farther out they were moved until the sky became their permanent home. Sometimes Son Ram Lightning gets into mischief today and can still be seen striking through the sky.
Critical Analysis
With the beautiful, bright and colorful chalk illustrations, Ashley Bryan springs to life an old African tale of Lightning & Thunder. Set in the past from a village in Alkebulan comes the traditional story of a magic sheep and ram with the power to call rain into their village.
The Story of Lightning & Thunder addresses the phenomenon of weather in a culturally and imaginative light with ethical behavior as the driving message. Distinguishing the young Ram Lightning's behavior as disgraceful by the King, his punishment is to be banished further and further for each wrongdoing until finally, he is sent to the sky to live with his mother forever. Readers may find themselves relating to Son Ram or even Ma Sheep's actions and looking at thunderstorms a little differently after reading this magnificent story.
Review Excerpt(s)
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. Ma Sheep Thunder and Son Ram Lightning live in an African village, summoning Rain by racing through the mountains at the King's request. But Son Ram Lightning gets into mischief--butting people, munching on straw hats in the marketplace, and accidentally setting a fire. -Publishers Weekly
A delightful adaptation of a Nigerian folktale about ``Ma Sheep Thunder'' and her ``Son Ram Lightning,'' who live in a village where the people rely on them to call their friend Rain down from the clouds over the mountain. But Son Ram Lightning is so unruly that the King exiles the pair to a faraway home in the sky, from which Lightning still sometimes streaks wildly back to earth, striking anything in his path, while his mother follows behind and calls him back in her rumbling voice. -Kirkus Reviews
Connections
Other Ashley Bryan books to check out:
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner (2004):
- Bryan, Ashley. Beautiful Blackbird. ISBN 9780689847318
- Bryan, Ashley. Words to My Life's Song. ISBN 9781416905417
- Bryan, Ashley. Let it Shine. ISBN 9780689847325
History lesson/Africa & traditions of different cultures.
This would be a great beginning story to open on the first few days of school to discuss behavior and right/wrong actions. Students can discuss what Ram could have done or how the story would have changed if he had not caused trouble.
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