Explore the life cycle of a thunderstorm in this informative and engaging picture book. Morning's calm. Outside is still. A blue-forever day until . . . The real beginning of a thunderstorm happens long before the first raindrop falls. No rain yet. It's just a threat-a rising cloud, a towering plume, then . . . Follow along as the weather changes, from a blue-sky day to a brewing storm, from a brewing storm to a dazzling downpour, and from a dazzling downpour to the breathtaking moment when the sky emits a-ZAP! CLAP! BOOM! Laura Purdie Salas's dynamic text and Elly MacKay's vibrant art offer the perfect introduction to the science of weather and the forces that work together to create a storm. The next time nature puts on a dramatic thunder and lightning show, readers will be ready to find a cozy spot near a window and watch the storm unfold. An author's note delves deeper into the science of thunderstorms.