Reviewed by Marcia Maynard
What better time to read a book about rain than during this wet Rhode Island spring? Melissa Stewart’s knowledge of science and her love of language are obvious in her picture book, When Rain Falls.
Stewart connects her readers to the book by starting with a brother and sister who run inside their house when a storm starts. She then describes how animals from forests, fields, wetlands and deserts seek shelter and stay warm during storms. Her use of alliteration makes the story fun to read and easy to understand. When rain falls in a wetland…turtles tuck in their tiny heads. The watercolors by Constance Bergum are filled with details of the regions and animals. You feel like you are in the pond right next to the turtles.
So have your puddles boots and umbrellas handy. When Rain Falls will inspire you and your child to head outside and search your own neighborhood for wildlife.
Melissa Stewart lives in Massachusetts and is available for school visits. Check out her site www.melissa-stewart.com
Details:
When Rain Falls by Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by Constance R. Bergum
2008 Peachtree Publishers
$16.95 hardcover
Marcia Maynard stays home with her two sons and plays. She finds many ways to entertain her pre-school aged children and blogs about it at readandraise.blogspot.com. Prior to her current role as mom, she was an elementary school teacher and reading specialist.
