Listen to the Rain

by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, James Endicott (Illustrator)

Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault evoke the beauty and the mystery, and the sounds and the silences-- of rain.

Listen to the rain,
the whisper of the rain,
the slow soft sprinkle,
the drip-drop tinkle,
the first wet whisper of the rain.

Their marvelous ear for the melodies and rhythm of language, combined with James Endicott's spare, almost abstract paintings, have created a lyrical book with a haunting power-- perfect for reading aloud on a rainy day.

An NCTE Notable Trade Book for the Language Arts.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Nature, Childrens, Storytime, Animals, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 1988

About the author

Bill Martin, Jr. (1916-2004) was an elementary-school principal, teacher, writer, and poet. His more than 300 books, among them the bestselling classics Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See ; Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear ; Panda Bear Panda Bear What Do You See ; and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom , are a testament to his ability to speak directly to children. Martin held a doctoral degree in early childhood education. Born in Kansas, he worked as an elementary-school principal in Chicago before moving to New York City, where he worked in publishing, developing innovative reading programs for schools. After several years, he devoted himself full-time to writing his children's books. He lived in New York until 1993, when he moved to Texas. He lived in the east Texas woods, near the town of Commerce, until he passed away in 2004.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/billma...

Reviews

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gentle, beautifully illustrated book filled with wonderful language to describe a rainstorm from the first gentle whisper of the rain through "splash and splash and splatter, the steady sound of the singing of the rain" through to the "quietude, the silence and the solitude, of after-rain". My story time audience hung on every word and studied every picture - and this book seemed to have very broad age-appeal.

[Ogechukwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the involvement.

[Grace Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING illustrations.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the words and images in this book. The words are lovely, complicated, and fun to say. I also love rain, so the aesthetics of this book are really appealing. I want to try it for story time because it is such a lovely poem to hear aloud.

[Kaylee Taunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are breathtaking! Absolutely loved it

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to read on a rainy day. It offers rhymes and rhythmic and describes the rain so beautifully. The large font size makes it easy to read for early readers and the illustrations are gentle. This is a great book to discuss weather and the different sounds that are associated with it. I can see myself making rainstick instruments after reading this book to children.

[Katelynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The language in this one is kooky and complex, but this makes for a calming read-aloud. The illustrations are gorgeous and muted. This is a good one for spring or a rainy day.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very few well-chosen, lyrical, onomatopoeic words appear on each spread of this lovely little picture book: Listen to the rain, the whisper of the rain, /the slow soft sprinkle, the drip-drop tinkle, / the first wet whisper of the rain. The rain builds, then ebbs again in a gentle ending, just like a refreshing spring shower.

I read this to PreK this morning, and used the iPad app Relax Melodies HD to play different rain sounds while I read. Together, I achieved just the effect I was hoping for. I'll be using this book again.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had expected more in this book, judging that it's by the author of "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" and such works. He still uses the rhyming. Very, very simplistic. Artwork isn't too bad. But I don't think it will work for Book Time in any way. Meant for a much younger audience. And not all too exciting for a story time any way.

[สุพรรณิการ์ แก้วแกมเกษ · Rating 3 out of 5]

When It Rains, It Rains

~Bill Martin, Jr.



When it snows, it snows

When it fogs, it fogs

When it blows, it blows

When it's hot, it's hot

When it's cold, it's cold

When you're young, you're young

When you're old, you're old

When I'm happy, I'm happy

When I'm sad, I'm sad

When I'm good, I'm good

But when I'm bad...

[Cornelius Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Martin Jr. and John Achambault come together to bring this beautiful children's picture book all about the rain, the sounds, and feelings that you get when you hear and see the rain.
The large font size makes it an easy and fun book to read out loud with it's rhythmic writing. It's a favorite and fun book to read on a rainy day or to make your own rain sounds!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Martin Jr. and John Achambault come together to bring this beautiful children's picture book all about the rain, the sounds, and feelings that you get when you hear and see the rain.
The large font size makes it an easy and fun book to read out loud with it's rhythmic writing. It's a favorite and fun book to read on a rainy day or to make your own rain sounds!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today was a very rainy day, and I stumbled upon this title as I was walking by a display bin of picture books. Wow Bill Martin certainly had a poet's way of making one hear and feel the various facets of rain. I enjoyed this one on a very rainy day.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun participatory book to read... have children create their own "thunderstorm" by rubbing hands together, pounding their hands against their legs, and stomping their feet.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

rhyming, poetry, rain

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poem book about rain. The pictures in this book are lovely! Great if you are teaching about rain and animals.

[Edna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated single poem book gently encourages the reader to see and hear the melodic sounds of rain.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

toddler - preschool

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a writer's workshop must! There is so much craft in this text for students to look at and try out in their own writing. This book is awesome!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is our favorite rainy day read-aloud book. The words are wonderful, the illustrations are whimsical (except for the clawing thunder, that scares my three-year-old everytime we read it).

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful language to explain rain; as it starts during and after rain fall storm or a gentle rain fall.

[Buxmont Uu]

WAMWAO Session 8
CMMW 8
CMMW 18

[Ralf Urbach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very simple read, recommend that it is read while it is actually raining! Some very interesting choice of wording and use of rhyming. Illustrations worked well with the story.(less)

[Rachel Rouleau · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm always a little skeptical when there are two authors for a simple picture book. I mean there are like 30 words in the whole book. Plus a separate illustrator. Really?

[Kt Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book to do sound lesson with kids for music!!!!

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the words. Honestly this book has so much potential, but the illustrations are sorely lacking -- bland and confusing.

[Michelle Farella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mindfulness :-)

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The words he uses to describe the rain are wonderful, lyrical.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something that totally could be paired with the snapping, clapping, rubbing rain sound song. A gentle, quick read.