| Ingram’s Storytime Stars: Rain rain, don't go away... |
By Tracy Taylor, MLS
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Rainy days always mean curling up with a good book to me. A cup of hot cocoa, a warm blanket, and a sleepy dog snoozing at my side make the day even better. In Wong Herbert Yee's second seasonal book in a planned quartet, a little girl asks the question Who Likes Rain?. Simple, rhyming phrases create a guessing game for your storytime listeners. They will love answering the questions as you read the story. Just right if you are doing the summer reading club theme of Get A Clue @ Your Library.
However, if you want to focus on rainy days for your storytime theme, here are some of my favorites to include. These are geared for a younger audience.
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Written by Wendy Cheyette Lewison and illustrated by Pam Paparone, Raindrop, Plop! is a simple counting book at first glance. However, not only does it count up from one to 10, it also counts down from 10 to one, a useful skill to practice. The brightly colored illustrations have a cheerful quality that can bring life to those gray rainy days.
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In Manya Stojic's Rain, we are treated to a vibrant illustration of the cycle of water on the African savanna. The animals use their senses to predict the coming of the rain; they also then use their senses to enjoy the rain. This could lead to an interesting discussion as to how we use our senses compared to animals.
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Kin Eagle has expanded the classic It's Raining, It's Pouring to include many types of weather. Illustrated by Rob Gilbert, the children will enjoy singing along, making it a good transition piece.
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Extremely simple, Robert Kalan's Rain, illustrated by Donald Crews, has a graphic quality that jumps off the page. Unfortunately, due to the small size of the book, it is best shared with a small group.
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On a rainy day, Don and Audrey Wood take us to The Napping House. A cumulative rhyme filled with sleepy, dozing creatures lulls us into a sense of peace, until along comes the wakeful flea who creates all sorts of havoc. Perfect as a book, but it also makes a wonderful creative dramatic for an audience participation activity.
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The poetic nature of Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault 's Listen to the Rain, illustrated by James Endicott, has a soothing quality. This makes it ideal to bring the audience back together after a rowdy interlude.
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Finally, let us celebrate the end of the rain with Jonathan London's Puddles, pictures by G. Brian Karas. The morning after the rain, two children venture forth to jump through puddles, slog through mud and wet grass, and play in the drips.
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After the book is over and the rain ends, we need to go out and enjoy the fresh, clean world.
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