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Rabbits & Raindrops
It's the first day outside the nest for Mother rabbit's five babies, and all sorts of new creatures and adventures await them. But when a sudden rain shower sends the rabbits scurrying for shelter under the hedge, the other wild animals come to visit them! Jim Arnosky 's graceful watercolors and simple text are sure to delight children experiencing nature's wonders for the first time.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 1997
2 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Jim Arnosky
162 books76 followersJim Arnosky was born in New York City, NY Sept 1, 1946. He was raised in Pennsylvania. Jim graduated from high school in Philadelphia and joined the US Naval Reserves. His active duty took him to Maryland and Bremerhaven, Germany.
In 1976 Jim and his wife Deanna moved to Vermont with their two daughters where they have lived in an old farmhouse for the past 28 years. 17 of those years were spent raising sheep.
Jim is self taught in writing, art and the natural sciences. He has written and illustrated 86 books on nature subjects and has illustrated 46 other books written by various authors. He has been awarded the Christopher Medal, Orbis Pictus Honor, ALA Gordon Award, and Outstanding Science book awards from National Science Teachers Associations.
Jim loves to fish, boat, and play his guitar. In his work, he uses a Betacam SP video camcorder with a 1600 mm lens to record the wildlife he and Deanna find all across the country.
In 1976 Jim and his wife Deanna moved to Vermont with their two daughters where they have lived in an old farmhouse for the past 28 years. 17 of those years were spent raising sheep.
Jim is self taught in writing, art and the natural sciences. He has written and illustrated 86 books on nature subjects and has illustrated 46 other books written by various authors. He has been awarded the Christopher Medal, Orbis Pictus Honor, ALA Gordon Award, and Outstanding Science book awards from National Science Teachers Associations.
Jim loves to fish, boat, and play his guitar. In his work, he uses a Betacam SP video camcorder with a 1600 mm lens to record the wildlife he and Deanna find all across the country.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 25, 2020
A mother rabbit leads her bunnies out onto the grass from their den under the hedge in this lovely work of picture-book natural history. Here they cavort and play, meeting all kinds of other creatures until a rain storm sends them back under the hedge to shelter. When the rain passes, they can play again...
The artwork in Rabbits & Raindrop is simply beautiful, full of light and color, with adorably expressive depictions of the lapine figures. The text is very simple, like so many of Jim Arnosky's picture-books in this vein, but it is also informative. I actually had no idea that rabbit fur is not waterproof, and that little bunnies can catch cold, if they get wet. This isn't a non-fiction reference, and there is no back matter, but it is educational, in the sense that it builds a young child's appreciation of the natural world, and the animals (specifically, rabbits) in it. Recommended to young children (I'd say between two and six) who love animals and rainstorms.
The artwork in Rabbits & Raindrop is simply beautiful, full of light and color, with adorably expressive depictions of the lapine figures. The text is very simple, like so many of Jim Arnosky's picture-books in this vein, but it is also informative. I actually had no idea that rabbit fur is not waterproof, and that little bunnies can catch cold, if they get wet. This isn't a non-fiction reference, and there is no back matter, but it is educational, in the sense that it builds a young child's appreciation of the natural world, and the animals (specifically, rabbits) in it. Recommended to young children (I'd say between two and six) who love animals and rainstorms.
September 3, 2021
Another darling story by Jim Arnosky! The little baby bunnies coming out of their nest for the first time are so cute. The illustrations will absorb the child who is listening to this story. The words are few, but just enough. A quiet, peaceful story about a day in the big wide world, with a little rain storm, taking shelter, then back out into the sunshine.
Thanks Kristine for bringing this author to my awareness!
Thanks Kristine for bringing this author to my awareness!
July 11, 2015
Great book to discuss living things. There are a lot of insects, plants and animals in this book. I also can stem hands-on science activities off of this book.
August 6, 2019
My son and I are loving Jim Arnosky's books lately. He is past master of painting adorable baby animals, lush green settings, and water in all its forms. We'll definitely be continuing through more of his books!
April 2, 2025
This is my son, Finnegan’s review (age 6): “This is my favorite book I’ve ever read, because I like rabbits and I like all the pictures. The bunnies look so cute and they have very funny faces on every page. Thank you (to Jim) for all your work! I have read it SO many times”
April 23, 2020
Love Arnosky’s Illustrations, realistic, but yet slightly humorous. Perfect for my preschoolers.
February 2, 2017
Adorable illustrations with an adorable story!
October 3, 2008
We have read several of Arnosky's books and Teagan has loved them all. Great "nature" books for preschoolers.
September 20, 2010
Cute simple book about rabbits and nature. No frills. Nice pictures.
May 5, 2016
cute, cute, cute.
February 17, 2021
Lovely illustrations and a cute story. Jim Arnosky is a great author and illustrator. We have almost all of his books and my children would be so angry if I got rid of any of them.
August 10, 2022
Who cannot enjoy a book that goes by the name of Rabbits & Raindrops
The story explores the debut of five baby rabbits as they leave their nest for the first time and unexpectedly meet their first rain. Hurrying back inside to keep dry the reader is taken into the world where everyone has to sit out the elements.
What really made this book for me was the illustrations. The animals are realistic, the colors are bright and the facial expressions are just amazing to take in. At one point the reader can ever see an Eastern red-spotted newt tucked in the leaf litter, which reminds me of my time living in Virginia.
This is one book that is adorably cute and refreshing in just its basic simple sweetness even without having a strong plot to fall back upon.
The story explores the debut of five baby rabbits as they leave their nest for the first time and unexpectedly meet their first rain. Hurrying back inside to keep dry the reader is taken into the world where everyone has to sit out the elements.
What really made this book for me was the illustrations. The animals are realistic, the colors are bright and the facial expressions are just amazing to take in. At one point the reader can ever see an Eastern red-spotted newt tucked in the leaf litter, which reminds me of my time living in Virginia.
This is one book that is adorably cute and refreshing in just its basic simple sweetness even without having a strong plot to fall back upon.
April 22, 2024
Gentle and lovely, this is a sweet nature book for young children. The illustrations are lush and include many details to notice and enjoy. Our little preschooler gasped with joy upon seeing some of the page spreads.
We have often loved Jim Arnosky books through the different ages and stages of our family, and have found many gems (Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-Watching, Shore Walking is one that comes immediately to mind, as well as the Crinkleroots). This was a new one for our household and came at just the right time.
We have often loved Jim Arnosky books through the different ages and stages of our family, and have found many gems (Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-Watching, Shore Walking is one that comes immediately to mind, as well as the Crinkleroots). This was a new one for our household and came at just the right time.
April 30, 2024
Five little rabbits emerge from their nest for the first time. They encounter the wonders of nature before a sudden storm forces them to hide under a bush. A sweet and gentle tale with wonderful illustrations by the author.
August 3, 2024
The actual writing and story here is not anything special. I was looking through books at a bookstore, and this one caught my eye. I read it mainly because of the illustrations. The close-up drawings of the mother rabbit with her five babies are adorable. The illustrations make this book worth reading and showing to children. My favorite illustration is the one at the end with all the bunnies playing after the rain stops and a rainbow appears.
October 22, 2022
A top-notch illustrator for children’s nature picture book! I used his books all of the time in the many years I was a children’s librarian. They were great for storytime —a story with a little bit of a nonfiction element added. Highly recommended author!
February 22, 2018
This is a great book for kids to understand sentence fluency and is also simple for readers to understand.
Six + 1 Traits: Word Choice, Sentence Fluency
DRA Level: 16
Lexile: 490L
Six + 1 Traits: Word Choice, Sentence Fluency
DRA Level: 16
Lexile: 490L
May 17, 2018
use with My Spring Robin by Rockwell (and felt board) and Spring by Amoroso J508.2A
August 26, 2018
Beautiful illustrations however the story is lackluster. A simple story about bunnies hiding during a spring rainstorm. This would be an easy read at a toddler bunny/rabbit themed storytime.
January 15, 2019
Nicely illustrated book about rabbits. Would be good for a preschool introduction to living nature books.
October 17, 2019
My kids really liked it and the pictures are pretty good.
January 26, 2020
I think the friendly visitors show good connections of friendships and the illustrations are so realistic! The detail in the animals and nature are very beautiful.
July 29, 2020
This is a great book to read in spring.
October 19, 2020
Five stars for the beautiful pictures. 3 stars for the story.
April 21, 2021
A cute story sprinkled with facts about rabbits.
March 24, 2022
Beautiful illustrations and story about a rabbit and their first experiences with the world
May 17, 2023
Story 4
Illustrations 5
Illustrations 5
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June 8, 2023What a sweet and calming story about rabbits and what they do when the rain comes. Beautiful artwork helps to capture the rain and the animals in nature.
August 30, 2023
A sweet and colorful book. I loved the illustrations and fast moving story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews