Cover
The Storm That Swallowed the Meadow
Image description: Cover of The Storm That Swallowed the Meadow — six friends shoulder to shoulder under dark clouds
Page 2
The meadow of the land beneath the burrow was peaceful again today. Hamdori ran, Kkangchong hopped, Elephant blew bubbles, Baby Elephant splashed, Wangnuni read, and the girl drew it all in her notebook.
Image description: Six friends each doing a favorite thing in a peaceful meadow
Page 3
Then Wangnuni looked at the edge of the sky bigger, even bigger. “Everyone! A huge, huge dark cloud is coming!” A storm no one else had seen yet — Wangnuni’s eyes found it first.
Image description: Wangnuni spotting distant dark clouds through a magnifying glass
Page 4
Rumble~ crash! The storm swallowed the meadow. Rain and wind laid the flowers flat; the stream rose higher and higher. Never had a storm been this big.
Image description: A meadow under wind and rain; a rising stream
Page 5
“We have to tell everyone!” Hamdori stepped up. Dadada, dadada! Through every corner of the forest village, the fastest feet in the world carried the storm news. “Gather under the big tree on the hill!”
Image description: Hamdori running through rain to warn friends
Page 6
Kkangchong knew the highest safe path. “This way! Follow me!” Hop-hop, leading up the hill. Little rabbit siblings hop-hop followed behind.
Image description: Kkangchong leading animals up a hill path
Page 7
But the stream overflowed and the bridge went under! Then Baby Elephant stretched the trunk long, gurgle-gurgle, and sucked up the risen water with all might. “Now — cross!”
Image description: Baby Elephant clearing a path with the trunk as friends cross
Page 8
“A baby bird is still in the nest!” Elephant whoooo~ pop! wrapped the baby bird in a big strong rainbow bubble. The bubble rode the wind and floated all the way to the safe hill.
Image description: A baby bird rescued inside a rainbow soap bubble
Page 9
Under the big tree on the hill, the girl opened her notebook. She drew Wangnuni’s eyes, Hamdori’s feet, Kkangchong’s jump, Baby Elephant’s trunk, and Elephant’s bubbles joined as one. “If we join our gifts, there is nothing we can’t do.”
Image description: The girl drawing a plan that joins the six friends’ gifts
Page 10
All night the storm howled. To say they were not afraid would be a lie. The friends pressed close and sang in small voices. Fear shared becomes half.
Image description: Six friends leaning together under a big tree through the night
Page 11
Morning came — quiet. The storm had passed. The meadow was soaked, toppled, a mess — but not one friend was hurt.
Image description: Friends looking over a wet meadow after the storm
Page 12
“Now let’s bring our meadow back!” Hamdori carried seeds, Kkangchong righted high branches, Baby Elephant sprinkled clear water, Wangnuni looked larger to find what was lost, and Elephant’s bubbles made everyone smile.
Image description: Six friends restoring the meadow with each gift
Page 13
Then a great rainbow rose over the meadow. Brighter, even, than before the storm.
Image description: A great rainbow over a revived meadow
Page 14
On the last page of the notebook the girl wrote, “The storm is large. But together, we are larger than the storm.”
Image description: The girl writing a last line; friends with arms around shoulders
Artist’s note
This special picture book brings together characters created by six artists. Disaster can come to anyone, but when people with different abilities join forces, they can overcome it. That is the greatest lesson the six artists learned in this meadow.
Image description: Six friends standing side by side under a rainbow, seen from behind