What is this story about?

It follows Finola, a girl who is afraid of thunderstorms, as her grandfather Eloi teaches her to count the seconds between lightning and thunder.

What age is this fairy tale best for?

It is prepared for children around age five and up, with gentle suspense, warm family support, and a reassuring ending.

What does Finola learn?

Finola learns that counting can help her understand how far away a storm is, and that curiosity can make room for courage.

The storm feels dramatic for a moment, but the story stays safe and comforting. Eloi remains calm, and Finola ends the evening proud of herself.

🗺️ Adventure · 🌿 Nature · ✨ Learning

The Counting Trick Between Lightning and Thunder

Nina Valkina

5+ · Early readers19 min read24 pages

Finola had been afraid of thunderstorms for as long as she could remember, ever since a summer storm years ago had rattled the windows of her grandfather's farmhouse hard enough...

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About this story

Finola has spent every thunderstorm under a pile of cushions, trying to make the booming sky disappear. During a summer visit to her grandfather Eloi's farmhouse, dark clouds gather above the wheat fields and her familiar fear returns. But Eloi invites her onto the porch instead of letting her hide. He shares an old family trick: after each flash of lightning, count the seconds until the thunder arrives. The number reveals how far away the storm is.

At first, Finola counts only because she wants to stay near her grandfather. Then fourteen seconds become a discovery, and each new flash gives her something small and real to notice. As the storm draws closer, the numbers shrink and the porch rattles in the wind. When a sudden two-second crack catches Finola alone for a moment, she finds that she can still breathe, count, and stay upright.

With rain on the roof, a patient grandfather beside her, and a sky that slowly clears again, this warm illustrated fairy tale turns weather into a gentle adventure. It is a story about curiosity, practical learning, and the quiet courage that grows when a frightening thing becomes something a child can understand and measure.

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Questions parents ask

What is this story about?: It follows Finola, a girl who is afraid of thunderstorms, as her grandfather Eloi teaches her to count the seconds between lightning and thunder.
What age is this fairy tale best for?: It is prepared for children around age five and up, with gentle suspense, warm family support, and a reassuring ending.
What does Finola learn?: Finola learns that counting can help her understand how far away a storm is, and that curiosity can make room for courage.
Is the story scary?: The storm feels dramatic for a moment, but the story stays safe and comforting. Eloi remains calm, and Finola ends the evening proud of herself.