Rain has become even more important to California this year, and with a possible approaching El Nino, I’ve been trying to teach Bean about the importance of water, and what she might expect once it starts raining (we’re a pro-puddle splashing family). I listed our favorite rainy day books last year, too, but I’ve found a whole new crop of them this year. Here’s what we’ve been reading nonstop the past few weeks.
The Rain Stomper by Addie Boswell — This book has a fantastic rhythm to it, echoing the rhythm of a thunderstorm, mixed with an empowering message for a little girl who’s bummed about the rain. It’s so much fun to read aloud (“BOOM walla BOOM, BAM walla BAM BASH”), you might get carried away.
Rain School by James Rumsford — This book is mostly about school children in Chad building their own schoolhouse. It’s a wonderful and simple story for a kid who is into building things and doing things by herself; I’m fairly sure she hadn’t considered the awesome possibility of building her own school. Numerous maps in the book also led to many discussions about different countries and where people live.
I Love the Rain by Margaret Park Bridges — Perfect for a kid who’s unsure about the rain, or who actively complains about it. This story traces a little girl’s transformation from being bummed about the rain to loving it.
Rain Play by Cynthia Cotten — Bean tends to prefer book with simply told stories about human children, so this was a favorite of hers. Kids get caught in a rain storm at the playground, they splash in puddles before getting into their parents’ car and returning home to warm towels. A delightful, easy story about playing in the rain, and the coziness that awaits once you’re back home.
The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool — This book has a strong water conservation message (and concludes with a princess defying her father to bring rain back to the land.) I’m not sure Bean understood the “use only what you need” message, but she certainly understood how much animals and plants need rain to thrive, and what a blessing it is when it rains. A lovely way to think about a rainy day. (Also, do yourself a favor and pick out/buy any book illustrated by Allison Jay.)
Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman — Ok, also pick out/buy any book by Barbara Lehman. This was a favorite last year, and continued to be a favorite this year. Bean asked to read it multiple times/day for weeks. She still asks for it now that it’s back at the library. A little boy, lonely in a large house on a rainy day, finds a secret key and porthole to an island. No text, just images, so your tot can also practice reading people’s faces for cues and putting together a story.
