What do you think?
Rate this book
On l'appelait tempete
Storm Boy likes to wander alone along the fierce deserted coast among the dunes that face out into the Southern Ocean. After a pelican mother is shot, Storm Boy rescues the three chicks, and nurses them back to health. He names them Mr Proud, Mr Ponder and Mr Percival. After he releases them, his favourite, Mr Percival, returns. The story then concentrates on the conflict between his lifestyle and the externally imposed requirement for him to attend a school, and the fate of the pelican.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
73 people are currently reading
1476 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
October 6, 2021
Storm Boy
by Colin Thiele
Oh my gosh! I thought I would read this to cheer me up! I didn't know it was a tear jeaker! Ugh! I cried like a baby!
I then decided to pour salt in my wounds by watching the movie! I found it on Amazon Prime and really plunged the knife in my heart deep!
Reminded me of the Australian version of Where the Red Fern Grows.
Oh, the sadness!
by Colin Thiele
Oh my gosh! I thought I would read this to cheer me up! I didn't know it was a tear jeaker! Ugh! I cried like a baby!
I then decided to pour salt in my wounds by watching the movie! I found it on Amazon Prime and really plunged the knife in my heart deep!
Reminded me of the Australian version of Where the Red Fern Grows.
Oh, the sadness!
June 20, 2025
I watched the 1976 film version of this earlier today, and then immediately read the book. There are a few different versions of this book, and I will keep an eye out for the various different illustrators who have been used over the years as I think it will be interesting to see different takes on the story.
This edition features plenty of photographs - I don't think they are all film stills but I am not sure.
The book and film are both excellent, the differences between the two making sense, especially the ending which varies slightly - probably because incredible as the pelicans were, you couldn't get one to act out the final pages.
Both versions are beautiful and both made me cry, though they aren't gloomy by any means. There is a more recent remake that I may watch eventually, though I wonder if it was needed - - I prefer remakes to be done either if the original had potential but fell short, or if technological limitations from the time period meant key elements had to be left out or rearranged. I can't think of what a new version would bring to a well done, classic film, but hopefully it adds something worthwhile.
I realise this became a bit of a movie review as well, but the two feel very linked, especially because of the photos.
March 22, 2016
Storm Boy is an Australian childhood classic that takes place along the South Australian coast of Coorong. It’s a heartwarming tale of a bond between a young boy, Storm Boy and a pelican, Mr. Percival, whom the boy saves from a group of thugs that threatened their sanctuary, killing off wildlife for their own amusement.
I never read Storm Boy as a child but I do recall watching the movie several times. When my girl brought it home to read for her literary circle, I thought I’d take the opportunity to read it for myself. While I enjoyed the detailed description of scenery in this book, my girl didn’t appreciate it so much. And I can understand her frustration. For a 60-page book, the scenery took up nearly half. Some words she’s never come across before, and this broke her concentration when she was required to look it up. But when it came to Storm Boy and Mr. Percival coming together and their interaction, she was in her element. A lover of animals and wildlife of all kinds, she found their relationship endearing and humorous, especially when it came to Storm Boy training Mr. Percival to fetch. In my opinion, this is a morally important book for kids, showing the bad side of human behaviour and disrespect towards our wildlife and animals. Sad at times, touched on death in a respectable manner for tween readers.
I never read Storm Boy as a child but I do recall watching the movie several times. When my girl brought it home to read for her literary circle, I thought I’d take the opportunity to read it for myself. While I enjoyed the detailed description of scenery in this book, my girl didn’t appreciate it so much. And I can understand her frustration. For a 60-page book, the scenery took up nearly half. Some words she’s never come across before, and this broke her concentration when she was required to look it up. But when it came to Storm Boy and Mr. Percival coming together and their interaction, she was in her element. A lover of animals and wildlife of all kinds, she found their relationship endearing and humorous, especially when it came to Storm Boy training Mr. Percival to fetch. In my opinion, this is a morally important book for kids, showing the bad side of human behaviour and disrespect towards our wildlife and animals. Sad at times, touched on death in a respectable manner for tween readers.
March 23, 2017
I cried over this book as a child. On rereading it as an adult to my kids I marvelled at how perfectly written it is - what a beautiful, heart-wrenching story set in an area I know well.
May 20, 2021
A boy called Storm Boy lives with his father in a remote corner of Australia. When he sees a pelican mother being shot, Storm Boy finds and rescues the three baby pelicans and nurses them back to health. He names them Mr. Proud, Mr. Ponder and Mr. Percival. He releases them when they are old enough, but his favourite, Mr Percival, returns.
It's a beautiful story. A children's book about nature, life, love and loss. I get why it's such a classic in Australia. Colin Thiele really knew how to pull the heart strings.
It's a beautiful story. A children's book about nature, life, love and loss. I get why it's such a classic in Australia. Colin Thiele really knew how to pull the heart strings.
January 2, 2020
4 Stars
The bond between boy and bird is strong in this Australian classic. It's such a powerful and moving story considering the limited page count.
The bond between boy and bird is strong in this Australian classic. It's such a powerful and moving story considering the limited page count.
December 21, 2018
Was not expecting to cry at a children’s book this morning
May 22, 2012
Currently reading, but I had read it as a child. My brother sent it to me when he visited Australia. I was eleven, or so.
I am rereading to see why I loved it so, and why some of the story has stayed with me after all these years. And I do still love it. I love the quietness of it, the feel of the salt air on my face as I read. I can hear the birds, I swear I can.
Yes, I still love this book, and still want to visit this rugged coast, just maybe not in the Winter.
I am rereading to see why I loved it so, and why some of the story has stayed with me after all these years. And I do still love it. I love the quietness of it, the feel of the salt air on my face as I read. I can hear the birds, I swear I can.
Yes, I still love this book, and still want to visit this rugged coast, just maybe not in the Winter.
July 12, 2019
Storm Boy is an Australian childrens classic, first published in 1964, it has endured the decades and has been remade into film and performed live on stage. It's the latter which prompted me to borrow this book as I'm thinking of going to see it at QPAC, our peforming arts centre. It's downright un-Australian to have grown up without having read this at some point, and yet somehow I'd missed out on the experience.
Colin Thiele has brought to life the story of a young boy living in a remote South Australian location. He lives with his father, Hideaway, in a humpy with nature filling the roles of backyard, educator and friend. Storm Boy has such compassion for the wildlife, paricularly the birds, in their area. This story is focussed upon his friendship with Mr Percival, one of three pelicans he rescued and hand raised when their mothers' nest was vandalised. Though all three pelicans were released Mr Percival returned and remained by Storm Boys side.
It's a lovely, moving story for children and I'm glad to finally understand why it has remained a favourite for young readers (and their parents).
3.5 stars
Colin Thiele has brought to life the story of a young boy living in a remote South Australian location. He lives with his father, Hideaway, in a humpy with nature filling the roles of backyard, educator and friend. Storm Boy has such compassion for the wildlife, paricularly the birds, in their area. This story is focussed upon his friendship with Mr Percival, one of three pelicans he rescued and hand raised when their mothers' nest was vandalised. Though all three pelicans were released Mr Percival returned and remained by Storm Boys side.
It's a lovely, moving story for children and I'm glad to finally understand why it has remained a favourite for young readers (and their parents).
3.5 stars
May 25, 2012
The reason I'm giving this 3 stars is not so much because I liked it, but because the author was kind to me as 9yr old. Our class read this in primary school and then Colin Thiele came to our school for a Q&A session. We were asked to write a thank you letter to him and, remembering that he had arthritis, I mentioned this in my letter. His response to the class came back with the line, "And yes, Ruby, my AUTHORITUS is much better now, thank you. Haha!" Yes. Let's all pretend I did that on purpose....
August 21, 2016
Finally got my hands on a copy of this little classic. For such a little novel it left me with such a big impression.
July 3, 2020
Read a few times as a child it's a wonderful classic that can still make you cry.
December 20, 2023
I read it for the Buzzwordathon'23 : prompt: Weather
I sobbed so much :(( I really thought it would be a short-lighthearted read. Loved it.
I sobbed so much :(( I really thought it would be a short-lighthearted read. Loved it.
July 30, 2014
I don't know if I read "Storm Boy" when I was child, but I did see the movie, and grew up visiting Mr Percival at Marineland (well, the pelican who played him). Colin Thiele (who died in 2006 at 85) is a South Australian Icon, and his books are a part of our social history. It was a joy to read this story with my daughter, so evocative, so sad, so beautiful.
First published in 1963, "Storm Boy" explores the relationship between a boy and his friend, even when the friend is a pelican, as well as touching on hunting, conservation, and the isolation, remoteness, and hardships of parts of Australia. But his poetic narrative also imbues the reader with a feeling of the place - you can smell the sea, feel the wind, and hear the birds.
Just beautiful.
It does have a difficult ending, but it's sad / not sad. Heartwarming even as you tear up.
We cried.
This book is ahead of it's time. The Indigenous character, Fingerbone, is woven intelligently through the story as an equal without stereotyping or infantalising. Thiele's approach to conservation and the environment speaks to the nature lover, but he takes a realistic, adult approach. But mostly his love of the land speaks to every reader.
Note there are parts of the book parents may not approve.
I loved it. Maybe in part because it is part of my heritage, my personal history. It tells of my place. I believed.
Did my daughter feel the same way? I think she did. Maybe she doesn't understand the importance of the work, doesn't hear as I do the lyricism and descriptives in the words, but this is a book she should know. And she was a part of the reading. She enjoyed, she listened, she remained focussed, and she cried.
It's a winner for us.
Robert Ingpen
Illustrated by Robert Ingpen in 1974, the stunning pictures embrace the feel of the Coorong. While they do not portray events from the narrative as such, they are of the place, capturing the imaginations of the readers and placing them back on that beach. Illustrations to hang on a wall.
He talks about illustrating Storm Boy here.
Colin Thiele
South Australian born and raised, Colin Thiele celebrated South Australia in over 100 books, as well as teaching in high schools and lecturing in English until his retirement. His first major work, "Sun on the Stubble" was published in 1963 and centred around Eudunda. His last work, "Mr Dumby's Duck", was published 2006.
The Coorong
As much as character of the book as Storm Boy, Thiele makes the reader feel like a part of the landscape. Storm Boy does. He lives and breathes it. And he hurts when it does.
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/Cons...
The Movie
Available on aso .gov .au, clips from the movie and curator's notes as part of Australia's Living Archives. Released in 1976, the movie is as much a part of our history as the book.
Age (taking into account comprehension, concentration, language):
Read aloud - 5+
Read yourself - 8+
First published in 1963, "Storm Boy" explores the relationship between a boy and his friend, even when the friend is a pelican, as well as touching on hunting, conservation, and the isolation, remoteness, and hardships of parts of Australia. But his poetic narrative also imbues the reader with a feeling of the place - you can smell the sea, feel the wind, and hear the birds.
Just beautiful.
It does have a difficult ending, but it's sad / not sad. Heartwarming even as you tear up.
We cried.
This book is ahead of it's time. The Indigenous character, Fingerbone, is woven intelligently through the story as an equal without stereotyping or infantalising. Thiele's approach to conservation and the environment speaks to the nature lover, but he takes a realistic, adult approach. But mostly his love of the land speaks to every reader.
Note there are parts of the book parents may not approve.
I loved it. Maybe in part because it is part of my heritage, my personal history. It tells of my place. I believed.
Did my daughter feel the same way? I think she did. Maybe she doesn't understand the importance of the work, doesn't hear as I do the lyricism and descriptives in the words, but this is a book she should know. And she was a part of the reading. She enjoyed, she listened, she remained focussed, and she cried.
It's a winner for us.
Robert Ingpen
Illustrated by Robert Ingpen in 1974, the stunning pictures embrace the feel of the Coorong. While they do not portray events from the narrative as such, they are of the place, capturing the imaginations of the readers and placing them back on that beach. Illustrations to hang on a wall.
He talks about illustrating Storm Boy here.
Colin Thiele
South Australian born and raised, Colin Thiele celebrated South Australia in over 100 books, as well as teaching in high schools and lecturing in English until his retirement. His first major work, "Sun on the Stubble" was published in 1963 and centred around Eudunda. His last work, "Mr Dumby's Duck", was published 2006.
The Coorong
As much as character of the book as Storm Boy, Thiele makes the reader feel like a part of the landscape. Storm Boy does. He lives and breathes it. And he hurts when it does.
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/Cons...
The Movie
Available on aso .gov .au, clips from the movie and curator's notes as part of Australia's Living Archives. Released in 1976, the movie is as much a part of our history as the book.
Age (taking into account comprehension, concentration, language):
Read aloud - 5+
Read yourself - 8+
July 12, 2022
I listened to the audio of this great Australian classic story. Set in the Coorong in South Australia ! We learn about Storm Boy, his dad and Finger-bone.
The relationship between Storm Boy and Mr Percival, a friendly pelican, is simply and beautifully told. Storm Boy is a tale that everyone should read at least once in their life.
The relationship between Storm Boy and Mr Percival, a friendly pelican, is simply and beautifully told. Storm Boy is a tale that everyone should read at least once in their life.
August 23, 2024
This edition is published 1967 and has a stamp from a NY State library. Written in Australia, printed in US, borrowed from a US library, ended up in Perth Auatralia, found at the Library Discard shop. We also get donations from the public so I assume a US person/librarian moved to Australia and it wended it's way to the shop.
I love the illustrations, but none of the Australian editions have this cover. I wonder if any of the text was changed for US publication?
I love the illustrations, but none of the Australian editions have this cover. I wonder if any of the text was changed for US publication?
October 19, 2011
Having previously lived not far from Goolwa and The Coorong, and also having been entertained by Mr Percival (from the movie) at the Adelaide Zoo as a youngster, I felt quite sentimental re-reading this book after so many years. The book was standard fare to South Australian (and Australian) schoolchildren in the 1970s and early 1980s, and upon re-reading, I was surprised how little the book had dated over the years.
For me, the book still evoked the same raw emotions as they did 30 years ago when I first read the story. I have always loved the indigenous Fingerbone Bill character (played by David Gulpilil in the movie) and the empathy and bond he shared with the young Storm Boy. They both shared an instinctive and protective love of their environment which is as relevant today as the day Storm Boy was written.
A powerful YA story packed into a short 60ish pages that is still valid today and can be read in conjunction with the equally powerful SA Film Corporation movie of the same name (and some tissues).
For me, the book still evoked the same raw emotions as they did 30 years ago when I first read the story. I have always loved the indigenous Fingerbone Bill character (played by David Gulpilil in the movie) and the empathy and bond he shared with the young Storm Boy. They both shared an instinctive and protective love of their environment which is as relevant today as the day Storm Boy was written.
A powerful YA story packed into a short 60ish pages that is still valid today and can be read in conjunction with the equally powerful SA Film Corporation movie of the same name (and some tissues).
January 4, 2019
Rereading a childhood Australian classic, soon to be released as a film (again). I remember being devastated reading it as a child, and it didn't get much better when my children read it, and then again this time. What did surprise me, however, was the advanced level of language for a child's book. A heartstring tugger.
December 2, 2024
Ow! My heart still hurts even after finishing this book after a while. This book was a school assignment and once we’ve finished reading it, literally everyone was bawling their eyes out. Thank you so much Colin Thiele for writing this amazing Aussie classic.
January 11, 2019
A bona fide Australian classic that I have no memory of reading as a child. The release of the second film adaptation this year prompted me to pick up this slender volume, usually found as a short in a collection of other Thiele stories. By itself, it’s a dreamy bit of landscape building and coming-of-age sadness mixed with childhood adventure story, steadfastly refusing to sugar coat the ending for younger readers. This early edition had illustrations from John Bailey, whose unobtrusive line art is delicately inked and monochromatically given orange highlights.
July 4, 2017
I can't believe I've never read this book! It's incredible. A compelling story that is beautifully written, it creates rich visual imagery. A wonderful story about the relationship between humans and animals.
December 31, 2021
Can you believe I’ve avoided this text all these years because I knew it would make me cry?!
It’s brilliant. Timeless.
It’ll take me a couple more years to watch either of the films.
Recommend the Reading Australia lessons for this text too: https://readingaustralia.com.au/lesso...
It’s brilliant. Timeless.
It’ll take me a couple more years to watch either of the films.
Recommend the Reading Australia lessons for this text too: https://readingaustralia.com.au/lesso...
March 20, 2015
This is a lovely read about the power of friendship and the strange places you find it.
May 5, 2015
Classic - had top read this to help a child I teach. Love this book.
August 3, 2015
The mostalgic toastiness of a much loved childhood book.
April 3, 2018
A lovely classic Australian short story about a boy and his pelican.
February 21, 2022
I decided to pick up this book because of the nostalgia I have associated with the original Storm Boy fil produced in 1976… wow that’s old now. I’m yet to see the 2019 film but that’s a whole other kettle of pelican food. Mr. Percival will always hold a special place in my heart, and I was surprised at how short this book was. Not having the music or dramatic seascapes the film has his unfortunate demise was less emotional for me. I still teared up I won’t lie, but there’s no bawling into cats this time. A great work of Australian fiction. It was fantastical in ways it should be instead of trying to pass off the strange parts of Aussie living as normal unlike a lot of other books, see Boy Swallows Universe and Night Gate. The writing was average, and the imagery was decent, but mostly it was an Australian book set in Australia that didn’t suck.
June 14, 2025
I Genuinely recommend this book for Young readers. I love its plot twist with finding the 3 pelicans, and I loved seeing storm boy happy. I am angry about how Hide-Away took them to the sanctuary but I’m Pleased that Mr Percival came back. Mr Ponda and Mr proud didn’t come back. A captain decided to pay for storm boys Boarding school but storm boy refused to go because he didn’t wanna leave Mr percival alone. Sadly Mr percival died due to a salt gun and storm boy was devastated after the death, Storm boy reluctantly went to boarding school. I believe this is for 7th graders or 8th graders but it was enjoyable. Highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2024
I went to primary school in South Australia, and I am certain this would have been on the national school curriculum at the time, but I have absolutely no memory of reading it before now. I doubt I will forget it again!
I bought this a few weeks ago for my son, and he wanted to do a simultaneous read; I foolishly thought it'd be a quick easy one to add to my annual tally. I did not expect to be in tears! Storm Boy is quite rightly an Australian classic with themes of lost innocence, courage and friendship. I adored it.
I bought this a few weeks ago for my son, and he wanted to do a simultaneous read; I foolishly thought it'd be a quick easy one to add to my annual tally. I did not expect to be in tears! Storm Boy is quite rightly an Australian classic with themes of lost innocence, courage and friendship. I adored it.
August 21, 2023
Colin Thiele is such an Australian treasure. I read this because the year 4s who I teach at school are reading it. I so enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the Coorong in South Australia. The relationships Storm Boy has with his dad and Fingerbone are strong and simple. They don't own much at all but they care deeply about their place and the creatures that inhabit it. I was kind of suprised at the shortness of this story but it tells of a particular time in Storm Boy's life and the special relationship he has with a pelican after he rescues it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews