Deep in the forest, Little Thunder lives with Giju, his mother, and his father, Big Thunder. His mother and father teach Little Thunder many things about the fish and the animals and the great circle of life. As he learns these lessons, he looks forward to the day when he will become Thundermaker. He will have the important task of trying to create Kluskap by throwing thunderbolts at a mound of clay. When the time comes for Little Thunder to go to the sacred mountain and take on his new role, will he be up to the challenge, and will his aim be true.
Based on Syliboy’s multimedia exhibit, this book captures the storytelling spirit of the Mi’kmaw people. The bold, beautiful illustrations are richly saturated with warmth and colour, and have a timeless feel of ancient cave drawings. The story is told simply with short sentences whose cadence is ideally suited for reading aloud. Young readers will appreciate Little Thunder’s excitement at the prospect of becoming thundermaker for his people, as well as his anxiety when Wolverine’s distractions cause him to miss his mark. They will hopefully also come to recognize, as Little Thunder does, the wisdom of both Giju and Big Thunder.