Thunder Underground

In this collection of poems, noted children’s poet Jane Yolen takes readers on an expedition underground, exploring everything from animal burrows and human creations, like subways, near the surface—to ancient cities and fossils, lower down—to caves, magma, and Earth’s tectonic plates, deeper still below our feet. At the same time, in Josée Masse’s rich art, a girl and boy, accompanied by several animals, go on a fantastic underground journey. This book contains science, poetry, and an adventure story all rolled into one. But it’s also more than that: In these poems we see that beneath us are the past, present, future—history, truth, and story. This thought-provoking collection will evoke a sense of wonder and awe in readers, as they discover the mysterious world underneath us.

Jane Yolen is a poet and author of children's books, fantasy, and science fiction. She has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the twentieth century, and her books and stories have won numerous awards, including the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, and two Christopher Medals, among many others.

Josée Masse is the illustrator of the critically acclaimed books of reverso poems by Marilyn Singer (Mirror Mirror, Follow Follow, and Echo Echo) and of Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen, among other titles. She lives in Montreal, Canada. 

 NYPL Best book for kids

*"Twenty-one poems...encourage children to explore what is under their feet using imagination and wonder. Each poem honors the ability of young readers to navigate syntax, imagery, and wordplay. Yolen’s treatment of the underground is expansive...(and) Masse’s mixed-media illustrations portray the imaginary points of view with aplomb. A thoughtful exploration of nature expressed in poetry that should open the eyes of children to unseen worlds.” - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*“Yolen pays tribute to the natural…and the man-made…as well as musing on lost cities, (and) pirate treasure…Blending creativity with scientific fact, (her) poems appeal to readers’ imaginations and intellects alike.” Publishers Weekly, starred review