On a seemingly ordinary mid to late summer day, Matthew, a young boy, joins his father who is going into the fields to mend some fencing. As his father lifts him over barbed wire fences and verbally intimidates the cows, Matthew thinks, "My dad is the strongest man this side of Cremona" (a community north-west of Calgary). As they work, the sky continues to darken, and suddenly Matthew alerts his father to an approaching funnel cloud. The pair run, father carrying son, and seek shelter in a culvert as the tornado roars overhead. After its passage, the two return to their farm where they find Ma unhurt but numerous outbuildings and pieces of equipment damaged. However, their neighbours show up and assist them in repairing the damage and rounding up the livestock. Matthew realizes that no one, not even the strongest man this side of Cremona, can stop a tornado, but his dad's love "was more than strong enough."

      Heavy clouds, which foreshadow the coming tornado, hang over the farm on the cover page double spread, and they continue to occupy more of each spread until the tornado strikes. Graham's watercolour illustrations capture the various emotions the characters experience from their fear to the relief of finding everyone safe. Secondary "characters," like the family dog, with its lolling tongue and coat blowing in the increasing wind, as well as the cows, which are caught in their awkward "gallop" as they flee the storm, visually reinforce the book's action. While Graham has previously illustrated four other books, this, her first venture as both author and illustrator, is a very auspicious beginning.

      Collectors of art from children's illustrators should note that limited edition prints are available of the end papers' cows and Ma's cabbages. Ordering information is found on the copyright page.

Highly Recommended.