Brian Floca's children's book 'Island Storm' evolved from his experience during a storm off the Maine coast. The narrative follows two children as they venture toward the sea amidst worsening weather. They question the limits of their adventure, embodying a universal human urge to explore despite potential dangers. Floca enlisted illustrator Sydney Smith for the project, citing his exceptional ability to depict elements like paint, light, and weather. Smith relates closely to the adventurous spirit within the story, reflecting on his childhood desire to face storms.
There was this kind of electric charge in the air. It was hypnotic. Just the sensory feeling of the storm coming. The wind, the waves, all of these elemental forces unloading themselves on the island.
It's a little bit about this urge that we all have sometimes in life as adults and as kids, to touch the hot stove.
There are so many illustrators working today whose work I admire... but I don't think there's anyone out there right now who handles paint and light and water and weather the way Sydney does.
The kind of kid and adult, if he's honest, who would always go out into a storm. But he admits he doesn't really know exactly how he illustrated this book.
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