Now available!
One Day Came a Rumble
by Elizabeth McChesney and Daniel Hatcher; illustrated by Steve Musgrave
Publisher: Little Vine by Trellis Press
Page count: 36 pages
ISBN: 978-1-969759-20-8
Format: English Hardcover
Price: $14.00
Available at:
See other formats: Bilingual English/Spanish Hardcover
Something big and scary is stirring in the forest, and Fox, Deer, and Bird aren’t sure what to do! Bird shakes, Deer freezes, and Fox hides. Then they try a few calming techniques to soothe their fears, and kids are encouraged to try them out, too. With bright, beautiful art, this playful story shows that big worries feel more manageable when you know what to do.
Genres: Children’s Picture Books
Keywords: Children’s Picture Books, Juvenile Fiction, Social Themes
“When life is anxious and uncertain, books bring comfort and guidance, and this is a beautiful offering by a special team that clearly believes that and deeply respects kids. One Day Came a Rumble provides practical coping techniques within a bright and beautifully illustrated story to help soothe and support us all when times are tough. Critical resources at the back help families and kids cope with anxiety and stress. This is a necessary book at just the right moment.”
Andrew Medlar
President and CEO of Carnegie of Pittsburgh Library
“A timely and practical picture book for little children to navigate big feelings, One Day Came a Rumble has vibrant and comforting illustrations that make difficult concepts easier. Resources at the end are accessible through a QR code, which helps caregivers further understand how to support their children with anxiety and stress.”
Joanna K. Fabicon
Senior Librarian of Children’s Services, Los Angeles Public Library, UCLA Lecturer-Children’s Literature
“One Day Came a Rumble is a beautiful reminder that being scared is something we all experience, and we can learn simple ways to help ourselves feel better. Through a sweet story of friendship, swaying, and softening, Elizabeth McChesney and Daniel Hatcher give children tools they can actually use when big feelings come along. A wonderful book for kids and the grown-ups who love them.”
Tara Stiles
Founder of Strala Yoga and author of Living Softly
“Every child needs a little guidance to help them get past scary times. This book absolutely helps with that.”
Siobhan Reardon
Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
“As a non-profit practitioner working with families and children managing trauma, and also as the mom of a four-year-old navigating BIG feelings, I can attest that One Day Came a Rumble is a gift to us all! So much of life happens outside of our control, but with Bird and Fox and Deer showing us the things we CAN control, adults and kids alike can learn healthy ways to manage anxiety.”
Erin Hogeboom
Founding Director of San Diego for Every Child
“I’ve learned in my years working alongside children and families, that it’s not our role to protect kids from every scary moment. What we can do is help them build the confidence to face those moments. One Day Came a Rumble wraps practical coping skills inside a story children will want to hear again and again, making conversations about anxiety feel natural at an early age. It’s a beautiful reminder that courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s knowing what to do when it shows up.”
Billy Mawhiney
South Dakota Afterschool Network Director and author of Write Your Evolving Story
“As someone who’s Spanish was their first language, it was important for me to see a children’s book that helps Latino families engage with identifying and regulating emotions—potentially helping our communities continue to strengthen cultural norms around youth expressing feelings of distress. Whether it be English or Spanish, this special story brilliantly uses the beauty and pureness of the natural world to represent accurate depictions of how children experience feelings of fear and anxiety. The book goes one step further by giving families who are not accustomed to engaging in meaningful conversations around emotion management with useful strategies that can restore a sense of calm and optimism in our youth. Bravo!”
Carlos Santini
President and CEO Mizzen Education
“One Day Came a Rumble is much more than a storybook. It is a practical tool for building emotional literacy and self-regulation. The book’s central message is beautifully simple: things can feel less scary when we know what to do. In a world where children are navigating increasingly complex emotions and experiences, this book and accompanying resources are a must for educators, parents/caregivers, counselors, expanded learning professionals, and anyone who works with children. It provides an approachable entry point for conversations about anxiety, fear, and healthy coping strategies. It gives children something they can carry with them long after the story ends: the knowledge that big feelings are manageable and that they have tools within themselves to navigate them.”
Tia Quinn
Founder & CEO, BOOST Collaborative
“One Day Came a Rumble offers a thoughtful and developmentally appropriate way to help children understand what happens when the world around them suddenly feels uncertain. Through Bird, Deer, and Fox, we see that fear can look different for everyone and that breathing, movement, and other small actions can help us move through those difficult feelings. It is a warm, accessible reminder that children cannot always control what happens around them, but they can learn tools that help them feel more confident when difficult moments arise.”
William Woelki, PhD
Child Welfare Scholar & Educator and Contributing Author of Teen Runaways in America: A Reference Handbook
“One Day Came a Rumble goes beyond simply telling children how to handle difficult situations. It gives families a way to talk about those challenges together. The story creates natural opportunities for meaningful conversations about emotions, resilience, and coping with life’s inevitable ‘rumbles’ and the deeply engaging and beautiful illustrations enhance the book’s emotional impact.”
Melissa Erickson
Executive Director, Alliance for Public Schools
ISBN: 978-1-969759-20-8
Publishing: October 2026; Prerelease Copies will be Available for Sale at Printers Row Lit Fest, Chicago, IL, September 2026
Published by: Little Vine by Trellis Press
Pages: 36
Dimensions: 10 x 10
Age Range: 3–8 years
sample pages






about the creators
Liz McChesney has spent her life championing children, stories, and the joyful power of reading. A children’s librarian and fierce believer in justice through literacy, she builds bridges between books, families, and communities nationwide. When she’s not dreaming up new ways to spark young readers, Liz can be found loving dogs, savoring chive dumplings, or writing with her favorite purple pen.
Daniel Hatcher has spent his career championing children’s health, well-being, and belonging. Through his work with schools, families, and communities across the country, he helps build bridges that support healthier, happier childhoods. When he’s not focused on advancing school and community health, Daniel can be found guiding sound healing, yoga, and tai chi practices, leading nature and forest therapy adventures, or setting off on long walks to explore the world one step at a time.
Steve Musgrave is an illustrator living in Chicago with his wife Jane and their dog Lily. He has worked with Lurie Children’s Hospital, The Chicago Public Library and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Steve likes relaxing in his garden and drawing with kids.