Rain

by Cynthia Rylant, Lisa Congdon (Illustrator)

Overview

From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant comes a vibrantly illustrated, poetic picture book tribute to the beauty and magic of a rainy day.

There is a softness and a quiet before the rain comes...

When rain is on its way, some people and animals hurry home and get cozy inside. But others stay out to soak up the glorious showers! Wet drops bounce on leaves and roofs, creeks fill up, trees take a shower, cats have a show, and everyone relishes the rain.

With lyrical words by award-winning author Cynthia Rylant and vibrant pictures by celebrated artist Lisa Congdon, this evocative picture book shows that rain is good for everyone.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442465091
Publisher:	Beach Lane Books
Publication date:	04/25/2023
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	AD450L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, Motor Mouse, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novel Missing May received the Newbery Medal. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Lisa Congdon is an author, illustrator, and fine artist. Her books include Round by Jennifer Ward and, for adults, her own Whatever You Are, Be a Good One; Art, Inc.; Fortune Favors the Brave; and The Joy of Swimming. She lives in Portland, Oregon. You can see more of her work at LisaCongdon.com.

Editorial Reviews

02/20/2023

Via keen observation and soothing repetition, lilting text from Rylant (Life) celebrates rain’s onset, and its regenerative, nourishing power. “There is a softness/ and a quiet/ before the rain comes,” anticipatory lines begin. In patterned digital spreads that make fine use of blues, greens, oranges, pinks, and yellows, Congdon (Round) establishes the poem’s setting—a two-story home with a garden and a greenhouse, and, nearby, a fenced park with a pond. As clouds overtake the golden sun, birds “fly in with weather reports,” and the trees whisper to the squirrels, “Hurry home.” This refrain recurs as children, then animals, seek cover. Only the rain-booted legs of the children, portrayed with brown skin, are seen as they head home, aware of the storm: “Oh, they knew even before the trees knew. They watched as the sky changed.” Everyone retreats but the ducks: “Mama ducks gather up the babies/ and promise them/ a glorious day!” Because rain, “wonderful, free rain,” brings respite and gifts, this book firmly suggests, “every living thing/ will be better.” Ages 3–8. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Full Circle. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Poetic text and cheery folk art–like digital illustrations invite young children to look forward to rain and all of the good things it brings."

3/1/2023 - Horn Book Magazine

05/26/2023

PreS-Gr 2—This gentle ode to the wonders of a rain shower opens with a spread depicting an idyllic scene: a house, a garden, a pond, trees, frolicking animals—but sharp-eyed readers may notice that the sun is obscured by clouds. Rain is on the way. The next pages follow various creatures as they anticipate the oncoming rain. While most take shelter when the skies begin to darken, a few animals stay outside to revel in the showers. While each creature has a different reaction, the rain is clearly a welcome change of events for all. Rylant's soothing prose conveys that this ritual of preparing for and experiencing rain is cyclical and instinctive, something that has happened before and will happen again. There is an uplifting emphasis on the benefits of rain: "And after it stops falling and the sun starts to shine, flowers will grow even taller, gardens will grow more beans, and every living thing will be better." Congdon's inviting digital illustrations take the narrative full circle by concluding with the same scene that greeted readers in those first pages, only everything looks a little more vibrant after the showers, and a rainbow shines above. VERDICT This quiet, heartwarming story is a lovely tribute to nature's rhythms. Ideal for a weather-themed story hour or a cozy read-aloud at bedtime, this title is a welcome addition to any picture book collection.—Allison Tran

School Library Journal

2023-01-25
How do different living beings react when it starts to rain?

Rylant’s command of language is evident as the book opens—“There is a softness / and a quiet / before the rain comes.” The stylized art on this beginning spread shows distant objects and animals—a two-story house, a playground, a pond, squirrels—that will be featured in close-ups in the pages to come. Perhaps most importantly, the sun in a blue-gray sky is half-masked by a cloud. As the text and art progress, readers learn that rain is pending and that trees, animals, and children sense this and prepare for it. In slightly varied ways, Rylant poses simple questions about who expects the rain, with answers conveying bits of extra information. “And the dogs who have been / busy chewing bones / in friendly backyards: / Do they know about the rain? / The dogs knew even before the cats knew, / for their noses knew yesterday.” As expected, the ducks are happiest out in the rain. The text, complemented well by the art, continues, extolling the virtues of rain until the sun returns. The gentle, uplifting text and the cheerful illustrations make this a good candidate for bedtime or naptime read-alouds. Though the artwork generally avoids depicting faces, human characters appear to be dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

As soothing as the patter of rain against a window. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews