Thunder and the Noise Storms was named as 1 of 12 books for young readers to read during Indigenous History Month and beyond.
https://www.cbc.ca/books/12-books-for-young-readers-to-read-during-indigenous-history-month-and-beyond-9.7200805
Thunder is getting popular!
I am honoured to share that Thunder and the Noise Storms, written in collaboration with my son, Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos, was selected for CBC Kids Reads 2022.
CBC Kids Reads highlights Canadian children’s books that spark imagination, conversation, and connection among young readers across the country. Being included in this selection was a meaningful recognition of a story that was created from a place of love, listening, and intergenerational connection.
Thunder and the Noise Storms follows a young boy who feels overwhelmed by the noise of the world around him. With the guidance of his grandfather, he learns to slow down and listen differently. Through the sounds of nature — wind, water, and living things — he discovers a sense of peace, wonder, and belonging.
At its heart, this story is about learning to listen more deeply: to the world around us, to one another, and to the quiet wisdom that is always present if we take the time to hear it.
I am deeply grateful for this recognition and for the opportunity to share this story with readers, families, and communities.
I am honoured and excited to share that Thunder and the Noise Storms, created in collaboration with my son, Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos, was nominated for the 2021 Blue Spruce Award.
The Blue Spruce Award celebrates outstanding Canadian picture books and gives young readers the opportunity to recognize the stories that inspire, engage, and connect with them.
Thunder and the Noise Storms is a story about a young boy who feels overwhelmed by the noise of the world around him. With the guidance of his grandfather, he learns that listening can be a powerful way of finding peace. Through the sounds of nature, he discovers a deeper connection to the world around him and learns the beauty of slowing down and paying attention.
This recognition is especially meaningful because the heart of this story is about connection — between generations, between people and nature, and between the quiet wisdom we carry within ourselves.
Creating this book with Jeffrey has been a beautiful journey. We are grateful that Thunder and the Noise Storms has found its way into the hands and hearts of readers, and we are thankful for the recognition from the Blue Spruce Award.
Stories have a way of reminding us to listen. Sometimes, what we need most is already speaking.
I am so excited to share that Thunder and the Noise Storms is a dream come true.
My son, Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos, and I had the incredible privilege of collaborating on this children’s story, and we are thrilled to share it with you. The book is now available as a digital download, with the print edition coming soon!
Thunder and the Noise Storms follows a young boy who feels overwhelmed by the noise and busyness of the world around him. With the guidance and wisdom of his grandfather, he learns to navigate the noise through curiosity, wonder, and connection.
Together, they discover the beauty of listening — not just to the sounds around us, but to the quiet messages found in nature. Through the rustling of leaves, the rhythm of the earth, and the peaceful sounds of the natural world, he learns to slow down, breathe deeply, and find calm.
This story is about intergenerational love, the healing power of nature, and the wisdom that can be found when we truly listen.
I imagined once a pelican floating down a muddy river
Her graceful neck and white feathers brilliant in the morning sun
Peacefully gliding
A picture of purity and silence against the turbulent water that moved her
I dreamt of green deciduous trees and evergreens lining the water’s edge
Dark and full
A canopy of refuge for the lone dragonfly
Iridescent and translucent
A moving contradiction
Darting and hovering in lush shade
In my mind’s eye I envisioned 7 crows
Assembled in loose formation
Picking their breakfast from the dewy grass
Their open mouths the color crimson
Their black eyes watching and wondering
Like dim solders in their regimental best
They marched
I carefully planned the flower
Every detail
Her delicacy and frailty a sign of promise
Blooming in the summer heat
Her deep roots cool
Her minuscule petals fresh
I named her beauty
The shy insignificant spider
I hoped for him
To create a masterpiece of geometric design
Perfect line and space
Art and function in tandem
Feeding soul and body
Reflecting light in the shadows
The furry creatures
Nervous and bursting with energy
Their twitching tails and chattering mouths in constant movement
I pictured their tenacity
Their drive and persistence
As they gathered food and stored it away for the inevitable season of naught
All this I anticipated
Not just for myself but to share
I spoke and it came to be
So now to you who has noticed this magnificent creation
Tell me your dreams and I will show you endless possibility
The theme of Up From the Ground has been emerging throughout my songwriting, poetry, and photography. It is the idea that the world can look entirely different when viewed from a new and unexpected perspective.
Even when you find yourself flat out on your back, you can still look up. From that position, there are countless beautiful images waiting to be discovered — skies, branches, light, movement, and moments we may have overlooked while standing upright.
At first, this position can feel vulnerable, even a little dizzying. It asks us to see differently, to surrender control, and to notice what has always been there.
But I believe it is a hopeful vantage point.
So look up. Pay attention. See what is making itself known.
I am happy to have partnered with Heather Boersma in her new book Letters From a Big Sister. I am one of the contributing authors.
If you are a young woman — a teenager, a daughter, a granddaughter, a friend — or if you know, love, or work with youth, this book is for you.
Letters from a Big Sister is a collection of heartfelt letters from women sharing challenges they faced while growing up, along with the wisdom and truths they wish they had known in those moments. Each story offers honesty, encouragement, and the reminder that no one has to navigate life’s struggles alone.
These letters are filled with compassion, reflection, and hope — offering guidance from those who have walked the path before.
Take a look. You might find a letter meant for you.
Canadian Living recognized my work, by naming me one of 10 Canadian women paving the way for a better future.
Shezza Ansloos 