“A heartrending story of a New Orleans family’s experience through Hurricane Katrina…Simple, affecting prose and intricate, inspired paintings make this one worth sharing for sure.” ―Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Bootman’s dramatic oil paintings and the boy’s first-person narration provide realistic immediacy as the boy’s family makes its way through their flooded neighborhood on “a piece of someone’s porch that was floating by.” Readers are in for a deeply personal and sometimes uncomfortable look at a disaster whose ramifications are still being felt.” ―Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

“The juxtaposition of the understated text and muscular artwork works well…A memorable addition to the growing number of books about Hurricane Katrina, this offering personalizes a national tragedy.” ―Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

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“Can the enormity of a large-scale tragedy…be conveyed to school-age children without frightening them? How to describe the emotional toll without imposing a burden? It’s a difficult balance. But it’s one that the writer Myron Uhlberg and the illustrator Colin Bootman strike gracefully…this moving introduction to Hurricane Katrina imparts its lessons with a restraint that powerfully increases their gravity.” ―New York Times

“This remarkable homage to New Orleans tells of Louis Daniel, named for Armstrong, who leaves his flooded home with his parents and his cornet…The oil-on-board paintings of shimmering water and unfocused crowds capture contradictions; both harsh reality and otherworldliness; both the enormity and the intimacy of the event, somehow managing to leave out the horror. Uhlberg’s prose does the same…” ―School Library Journal

“It also embodies a pure style of jazz and blues music that New Orleans is best known for. It expresses uncertainty and looming danger, inspires hope, and supports the idea that home truly is where the heart is…” ―New York Journal of Books

“If it was difficult for adults to get their heads around the devastation surrounding Katrina…imagine how it was for children…A Storm Called Katrina captures the emotions of a young boy fleeing with his family as floodwaters rise after the hurricane and levee failures.” ―The Sunday Advocate

“The juxtaposition of a caring, responsible family against the frightening lack of control that everyone felt during and after the storm heightens the drama of the story…The powerful, full-color illustrations in oil will help younger readers understand what the city looked like and what happened to Louis Daniel. They will be able to see how frightening the situation was, but they will feel reassured in the end by the determination of the young hero.” ―The Times-Picayune

“This title will give young readers a picture of what it was like to be in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck. Children will appreciate how helpless Louis Daniel feels, and understand how much he lost…” ―Through the Looking Glass

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Best Children’s Books of the Year (Starred) ―Bank Street College of Education, 2012

Teachers’ Choices ―International Reading Association, 2012

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People ―National Council for the Social Studies, Children’s Book Council, 2012

Top 10 Black History Books for Youth ―Booklist, 2012

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Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth (Middle Readers, Fiction) ―Booklist, 2011

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award ―Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, 2011

California Collections (Elementary) ―California Readers, 2013

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Starred, Primary) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2012

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee, Picture Book) ―Maryland Association of School Librarians, 2013-2014

Charlotte Award (Nominee, Primary) ―New York State Reading Association, 2014

Delaware Diamonds (Nominee, Grades 3-5) ―Diamond State Reading Association, 2012-2013

Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award (Nominee) ―University of Georgia, 2012-2013

Prairie Bud Children’s Book Award (Nominee) ―South Dakota Library Association, South Dakota Reading Council, South Dakota State Library, South Dakota Elementary School Princ, 2013-2014

Volunteer State Book Awards (Nominee, Primary) ―Tennessee Association of School Librarians, 2014-2015

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Myron Uhlberg is the author of several picture books. A retired businessman, he lives in California. You can visit his website here.

Colin Bootman was born in Trinidad but moved to the United States at the age of seven. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York, he has illustrated numerous books for children, including Almost to Freedom, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book. He lives in New York.

“An affecting tribute to Robinson, to a dedicated son and to a thoughtful, deep-feeling father. And, of course, to baseball.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Genuinely affecting… Bootman’s realistic, wonderfully expressive watercolor paintings capture the fashions and flavor of 1940’s New York in muted brows and greens. The endpapers, an actual scrapbook of old newspaper articles about Robinson, provide a satisfying context for this ultimately upbeat, multi-dimensional story.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Bootman’s lovely watercolor paintings add detail and wistful nostalgia… [readers] will appreciate the story’s insightful treatment of deafness as viewed through the eyes of a child.” ―School Library Journal

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“It takes the young Uhlberg, narrator of the story, a while to overcome his embarrassment at his father’s attempts to cheer for Robinson…but eventually Dad’s devotion wins the day in a moving finale. Colin Bootman, who earned a Coretta Scott Honor Award for Almost to Freedom (2003), uses evocative watercolors rich in soft browns and lush greens to capture both the feel of the 1940s (fedora-wearing fans) and the electricity of Robinson’s play.” ―Booklist

“[Bootman’s] rich watercolors evoke the deep shadows of summer afternoons at the ballpark and the easy camaraderie between father and son.” ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The illustrations capture the action of the game as well as depicting the time period of the story. A study of the illustrations make you feel like you are involved in the story itself.” ―ACS Reader’s Haven

“In this story, Uhlberg creates a touching story based on his own boyhood experiences while attending baseball games with his deaf father. He crafts a beautifully written story about the hearing impaired and about Robinson’s determination and tolerance.” ―Pennsylvania Reads

“A moving and uplifting story commemorated in realistic watercolors and winner of The Teacher’s Choice Award and the Schneider Family Book Award. Wonderful!” ―Picture Book Reviews

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Schneider Family Book Award ―American Library Association, 2006

Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts ―National Council of Teachers of English, 2006

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People ―National Council for the Social Studies, Children’s Book Council, 2006

Teachers’ Choices (Primary) ―International Reading Association, 2006

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Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities ―IBBY Documentation Centre of Books for Disabled Young People, 2007

Storytelling World Resource Awards (Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners) ―Storytelling World Magazine, 2006

Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Awards (Reading List) ―Arkansas Department of Education, 2007-2008

Comstock Book Award ―Minnesota State University Moorhead, 2006

Land of Enchantment Book Awards (Master List) ―New Mexico Library Association, New Mexico Council of IRA, 2007-2008

Virginia Readers’ Choice (Elementary List) ―Virginia State Reading Association, 2009-2010

California Young Reader Medal (Nominee, Picture Book) ―CRA, CLA, CATE, CSLA, 2007-2008

Children’s Book Award (Nominee) ―Florida Reading Association, 2006-2007

Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee, Picture Book) ―Association for Indiana Media Educators, 2008-2009

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee) ―Maryland Educational Media Association, 2007-2008

Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award (Nominee) ―Kansas Reading Association, 2006-2007

Charlotte Award (Nominee) ―New York State Reading Association, 2008

KC3 Reading Program (Nominee) ―Greater Kansas City Association of School Librarians, 2007-2008

Show Me Readers Award (Nominee) ―Missouri Association of School Librarians, 2007

North Carolina Children’s Book Award (Nominee, Picture Book) ―North Carolina Reading Association, 2007

Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards (Nominee, Grades 3-6) ―Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, 2008-2009

SCBA Book Awards (Nominee, Children’s Books) ―Southern California Booksellers Association, 2005

Children’s Crown Award (Honor Book) ―National Christian School Association, 2007-2008

Best Read Aloud Picture Books ―Curriculum Materials Center at Minnesota State University Moorhead

Living the Dream Children’s Book Award (Nominee) ―Manhattan Country School, 2006-2007

Macy’s Multicultural Collection of Children’s Literature ―Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), 2008

Outstanding Book Award (Honorable Mention) ―The Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rightsk, 2005

Paterson Prize for Books for Young People (Special Recognition) ―The Poetry Center at Passiac County Community College), 2006

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Myron Uhlberg is the author of several picture books. A retired businessman, he lives in California. You can visit his website here.

Colin Bootman was born in Trinidad but moved to the United States at the age of seven. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York, he has illustrated numerous books for children, including Almost to Freedom, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book. He lives in New York.