The Story Behind the Cover of Hurry the Hurricane
It still feels a little surreal to say this, but Hurry the Hurricane is officially available for preorder! 🌀📘
And before Hurry makes his way into the world on November 10, I wanted to take a minute to talk about this cover.
The amazing illustrator, Claudio Cerri, took SO many of the ideas I had for Hurry and somehow turned them into something even more beautiful than I imagined. There are so many little details I love—and so much intention behind them.
🌀 Hurry Himself
This was probably the trickiest balance of all.
I wanted Hurry to feel just personified enough for children to connect with him, while still accurately representing the science of hurricanes. In my earliest conversations about the illustrations, one thing was especially important to me: Hurry isn't a villain. He's a natural system—not a character intentionally acting on the people around him.
He’s big. He’s powerful. He’s beautiful.
And I love that Claudio captured him joyfully absorbed in his own motion—almost like a carefree twirl.
He isn't trying to scare anyone. He isn't trying to hurt anyone.
He's simply being a hurricane.
💙 The Family
Calm, connected and together.
That feeling was important to me from the very beginning. Hurricanes are big, powerful events, and children may see and hear things that are unfamiliar or overwhelming. But when we know what to expect, feel prepared, and have our people beside us, something big doesn't have to feel quite so scary.
🎧 The Headphones
This is one of my favorite subtle details.
The headphones are a nod to neurodiversity and sensory sensitivities, especially acknowledging children who may experience the sounds and sensations of a storm more intensely.
I wanted that representation to feel natural—just part of this child's world rather than something that needed to be explained. That same idea guided my early illustration notes: supports could simply appear when useful, without becoming the focus of every scene.
🌴 A Little Bit of South Florida
The palm trees, coastal grasses and tropical details aren't there by accident.
I lived in South Florida for more than 20 years, and hurricanes became a familiar part of life—preparing, watching forecasts, and checking that ever-changing cone approximately 4,000 times. 😂
I wanted the world surrounding Hurry to feel rooted in the tropical environment that inspired so much of this story.
🐦 And, Of Course, the Ibis
After all those years in South Florida—and learning quite a bit about these quirky birds at the University of Miami—there HAD to be an ibis!
According to South Florida hurricane lore, ibises are among the last birds to leave before a storm and the first to return afterward.
So if you look closely at the cover, you'll find our little ibis right there with the family.
Big Doesn't Have to Mean Scary
And really, that's what all of these details come back to.
Hurry the Hurricane helps children understand what a hurricane is, what they might experience when one is coming, and what families can do to prepare.
We can't control whether a hurricane comes. But we can help make the unfamiliar more predictable. We can help children understand what they're seeing and hearing, know what to expect, participate in preparing, and feel connected to the people around them.
Because sometimes, understanding the big thing can make it feel a little less scary.
Hurry Is Coming November 10! 🌀📘
Hurry the Hurricane is officially available for preorder now on Amazon or wherever you buy your books! 🎉📚
I can't wait for Hurry to make his way into the hands of children, families, teachers, therapists, and all the grown-ups helping little ones weather big storms together. 💙