With each time she counts, Patricia does something brave without even realizing it. In the book, the grandma teaches Patricia how to count in between the lightning and thunder to find out how far away it is. I’d say students in 3rd and 4th grade could definitely do the sequencing as an independent activity. With teacher support, students can sequence the events in 1st and 2nd grade.

Sequencing is also another important reading skill that you could teach using this book as a mentor text. I’m using my AMAZING transparent sticky notes here (and for everything else I do in life now). As your reading, I would have students sketch pictures of what they’re visualizing in their mind: setting, characters, and more. This book (and really, any book by Patricia Polacco) is filled with descriptive language. For primary students, this story lends itself well to some visualizing work. In the primary grades I would recommend using this book to review story elements the story fits in nicely to a simple plot diagram and students will be able to easily identify the problem and solution. This book would work well for a few different things. Her grandmother helps her overcome her fear by teaching her how to make her own thunder cake. This book is about a little girl, Patricia, that is absolutely terrified of thunderstorms. Click here or on the picture to order your own copy! I looked closer at it the other day and thought about some great teaching opportunities that this particular book presents. Thunder Cake is my favorite book to read aloud to students of any age. Her books are written with so much emotion and feeling, and are based off of her own experiences growing up. Patricia Polacco remains one of my very favorite children’s authors.

Falker, Chicken Sunday, Pink and Say, and my very favorite, Thunder Cake.

My grandma's thunder cake