Rain

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.