Rain!

by Christian Robinson (Illustrator), Carlos Calvo (Translator), Linda Ashman

One rainy day in the city, an eager little boy exclaims, “Rain!” Across town a grumpy man grumbles, “Rain.” In this endearing picture book, a rainy-day cityscape comes to life in vibrant, cut-paper-style artwork. The boy in his green frog hat splashes in puddles—“Hoppy, hoppy, hoppy!”—while the old man curses the “dang puddles.” Can the boy’s natural exuberance (and perhaps a cookie) cheer up the grouchy gentleman and turn the day around?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Friendship, Humor, Emotion

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2013

About the author

Christian Robinson is an American illustrator of children's books and an animator. He is based in Sacramento, California and has worked with The Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios. He graduated from the California Institute of the Arts.

Reviews

[Suhasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be the reason of someone's smile today!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and wholesome! 🥰
Thanku Suhasa for recommending.🥰

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book to lift your spirits on a soggy spring day! When an older man wakes up and sees the rain, he is not happy. But when a little boy looks out at the same rain, he’s delighted. The older man grumbles through his preparations to go outside, while the little boy puts on his green boots, green coat and frog hat still happy with the gloomy weather. The old man grumbles about puddles, while you can see the joy of the child. They end up in the same café, the old man still grumpy with his day and the young boy happy with cocoa and cookies. When the two bump into each other, it seems like the grumpiness rubs off on the little boy. But then he notices that the older man left his hat behind, and with a little joke and a shared cookie, a day is brightened.

Ashman has written this book very simply, just in snatches of dialogue. Despite the simplicity, the mood of each character is clear in their words. It is made even more clear by the cut-paper illustrations that display each person’s mood with just a few lines. Readers will notice that the pages with the older man have others with grumpy faces while the pages with the the child have others with smiles.

A book that is sure to have readers jumping merrily in puddles and dancing in the rain, this is an inspiration to look on the bright side of things and share your happiness. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain is the parallel stories of a cranky old man and a happy little boy who both wake up to discover a rainy day. They react very differently to their circumstances, and when they eventually cross paths the boy's sunny attitude rubs off on the cranky old man and turns his day around.

There's not a ton of text in this book, making it suitable for a wide age range. Most of what's going on is interpreted through the drawings, and the facial expressions convey a wide variety of emotions. Our 3 year old could easily see how unhappy everyone was to be around the cranky old man, so we were able to talk about how being cranky can make other people feel bad too, and that being happy can do the same thing. Sounds heavy, but he loves this book and it's been on a nightly rotation with us for 3 renewals from the library.

I also appreciate that it's one of the only multicultural books I've seen where that is NOT the main focus of the book.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

With minimal text and beautiful illustration, the reader follows an old man and a young child through a rainy morning in the city. Enjoy this one now by checking out a copy on Mymcpl.org or searching for it on Overdrive! - Reviewed by Stephanie at MCPL Reading Rocket

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grumpy old white man and a happy brown skinned kid both emerge from the same fancy city apartment building and into the rain. The man complains about everything, the kid enjoys everything, but what will happen when their paths cross? Can you guess?

Predictable as can be, but with so much charm who cares? This won the Ezra Jack Keats award, and the child here is a fitting successor to Keats' Peter.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a rainy day, a young boy and an older man react in totally different ways to the rain. A great example of how attitude plays a huge part in how we experience the world around us. This will be a useful picture book to discuss perspective and will make a fun book to act out.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful Spanish-English book about going out in the rain and what a joy (and pain) it can be.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story on positivity vs negativity- influencing others to be more positive.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about rain and the opposites of being nice and being grumpy. The words are pretty babyish and overall I just didn’t care too much for this one.

Ages: 0 - 3

Cleanliness: the words "blasted" and "dang" are used.

See which rainy day books our family is enjoying: watch my reel!

Content Considerations: nothing to note.

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[Alana Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scholastic sent Rain! with my child's book order as a replacement for a book I ordered that wasn't in stock. I have never been more delighted to not get my order. Rain! is the story of a little boy who loves the rain, an old man who hates it, and the way that a brief encounter (and a smile) can change the direction of a whole day. I don't frequently laugh out loud at the end of a picture book (Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie books are the notable exceptions), but this one had me laugh with joy at the end. It's a delightful read with a fairly simple vocabulary that's likely to make children giggle along with their parents by the end.

Also, kudos to illustrator Christian Robinson for the beautifully diverse cast and the modern African American boy who stars as the rainy day hero. This is a great selection for #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaigns.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a rainy day in the city and the story follows a grumpy old man and a cute little boy who end up at the same cafe. Both moods can be infectious, but the little boy's cheeriness wins the old man over when he returns his hat and offers him a cookie.

Paint and collage illustrations give each page a lot of visual texture. The faces of the characters are so simple yet very well depicted.

It was quite fun to spend a moment in this rainstorm as seen through two perspectives.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In parallel stories that delightfully converge, a young puddle-loving boy inspires a grumpy old man to turn his mood around. As always, Robinson's illustrations are expressive, energetic, and inviting.

My 3-year-old loved this.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh I love this little guy! He looks just like an old-style Fisher Price Little People person, with his little round head and little dot eyes and perfect green slicker.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute! I love Christian Robinson's illustrations.

[Kasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can I just say that I have a billion years of love for Christian Robinson for not giving Asian characters slant eyes? Thank you, Mr. Robinson.

This was really cute.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little book about attitudes.
"Grump Grump Grump"
"Happy Happy Happy!"

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Lluvia!/ Rain! It is a story for any bilingual reader or learning to speak Spanish. I picked this story based on the cover and the fact that I love it when it rains. The story theme is that one's outlook on life impacts the type of day one will have. In the story, the little boy shows us how fun Lluvia (rain) can be, while the older man does not like Lluvia (rain). Their lives intertangle, and the older man is reminded to be childlike and experience a new outlook on how he sees the rain, impacting his day. When teaching Spanish to English learners, a teacher can have them do a vocabulary list and have them write sentences or do drawings to go along with the new words. This can also be used in an ESL classroom for Spanish learners to learn English through new vocabulary by doing the same lesson but reversed. This story can also be a great way to introduce Spanish to younger students, have them describe how they see a rainy day, and draw out what the weather looks like, like what raindrops feel or look like in their minds. I thought this story was a fun way to see how we are all intertwined with one another. I also enjoyed how the story shows that we can choose how our days will turn out when we wake up each day. If we wake up and see the day positively, the rest of the day will be fun and inspiring. We can have a bad or rough day if we wake up and have a rough start. So, it is important to remember that not everyone wakes up happy, but we can help others change their day with simple acts of kindness. This book teaches a valuable life lesson.

[Tonya-Denise Pettaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful picture book about rain! Some love the rain, while others despise it. This book takes an adoring look at two very different opinions of one of nature’s blessings. A young boy and an old man begin their day in different parts of a city. The young boy is not deterred by the rain while the old man is quite upset by the weather. Throughout the book, the old man continues to display a bad attitude. The young boy, on the other hand, takes great enjoyment in the day and brings a smile to the faces of those he meets. When they initially cross paths at a local café, the old man is still grumpy and continues to be curt and rude everyone, including the young boy. The young boy is briefly saddened by the old man’s rudeness. The old man leaves the café and the young boy sees an opportunity to extend kindness to the old man. He takes advantage of it and at first, the old man is quite irritated about being stopped by the young boy. However, the young boy’s selfless gesture melts the old man’s icy demeanor. Isn’t that just like a child?

The pictures in the book were done by Christian Robinson. I feel he did a great job in how he portrayed the main characters and those that came into contact with the old man and young boy. It further proves the thought that attitudes are contagious, good ones and bad ones. The story has simple sentences and it is a fun book for early readers. I recommend this book for pre-k to second grade.

[Hang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this picture book is very simple, the illustrations and meaning are quite delightful. The story's message shows that a person's perspective/attitude can greatly affect how they see the world. The story shows a young boy and an old man, both living in the same area. The story starts off with rain, the old man, grouchy, says "RAIN!" Where the young excited boy yells out "RAIN!" The man is already upset with the day and continues his day as a grumpy man. The boy starts his day excited and continues it with positivity. When the two run into each other, the boy shares with the old man. The old man puts on the young boy's frog hat and you can see that he is not so grumpy anymore. The book ends with the old man being more positive.
I love this book because it is a reminder that kindness can make a difference in even the most miserable person's life. I really enjoyed this book and it would be perfect for a read-aloud to ages 3-6.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a rainy day in the city. An older man wakes up and grumpily proclaims “Rain!” A few blocks away, a young boy rejoices “Rain!” Separately, the two prepare for a jaunt out in the weather, ultimately crossing paths at the Rise & Shine Café. A small courtesy by the boy transforms the man’s mood to a sunny one.

Ashman has created a sweet slice of life story about the power of small kindnesses. Use of a bouncy setting for the text punctuates the boy’s zest for life, while the grumpy man’s words are to the point and straightforward. Robinson’s paint and collage artwork pops from the paper, splashing in puddles and spreading joy in the city. His use of color matches the mood of the story perfectly.

A perfect pick for rainy day reading!

Recommended for PreS-grade 2.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, an old man and a small boy go out in the same rainstorm but have two very different days as the old man views the storm with a negative attitude and the boy has fun with it. In the end, the boy's kindness brings the old man around to a new point of view.
Very few words per page, lots to discuss in the pictures. Brilliantly illustrated by Christian Robinson.
Used this one for storytime after two weeks of torrential rain in my city (with flooding). Told the kids there was nothing we could do to change the rain, so we'd have to change our attitudes. Then we colored paper umbrellas. Honestly, one of the best storytimes I've done this season.
Paired the book with Singing in the Rain illustrated by Tim Hopgood. They are a perfect pair.

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was...........so cute.........  With Christian Robinson's usual adorable style and Ashman's means of telling two stories that later convene, this makes for a fun tale of sharing perspectives and finding joy in the smaller things.  With a stark difference between our main characters--an older white grumpy man and a young, excited child of color--the two also have already formed their opinions on the dreary weather and find their own ways to express themselves.  But when their paths align, one grumpy man's heart begins to warm up a little bit.  It's a hopeful book, suggesting that even the grumpiest person can change their mood with the help of an optimistic child.  Great for children ages 2-4.

Review cross-listed here!

[Vivian Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robinson’s vibrant hues combined with Ashman’s simple statements juxtapose the rainy day experiences of a curmudgeon and a free spirited young boy. “Blasted overcoat” versus “It’s raining frogs and pollywogs.” Guess who said what. Let’s just say the one wearing a frog beanie doesn’t exclaim “blasted.” The story takes a turn when these two worlds collide initiated by the kindness of the young boy. During an attempted act of kindness, the young boy forces the curmudgeon to face his dispersal of doldrums. “You?” “You.” A bedtime read that I never tire reading.

For more: www.theurbanimagined.wordpress.com

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Cute simple story about young girl cheering up grumpy old man during a rain storm
- Shows how one simple act of kindness can turn around anyone's day
- Very contrasting illustrations with each character. Bright colors are given to the child whereas more dark and dull colors are given to the old grumpy man until his day is changed.

I enjoyed this book because I thought it was super adorable and a simple read but still conveyed a message of encouraging others. One small act of kindness can help change the attitude of even the grumpiest of people.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is completely adorable and might make grown-ups feel sheepish about their bad attitudes! A rainy day is compared through two perspectives: that of a little boy, and an old man. While the little boy thinks of all of the fun things he can do, the old man finds lots of reason to be grumpy. Great way to show different perspectives, and the subtle idea that we actually don't *have* to think of things in a certain way - especially a negative one. The end is so utterly cute I don't want to spoil it. Charming, funny, and earnest.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, simple story about a grumpy old man, depicted with white skin and a bald head, and a cheerful kid, depicted with brown skin and black hair, who encounter a rainy day with different outlooks. I love the kid's devotion to frogs, rain and friendliness, and the happy ending of the old man learning to be friendlier by the kid's example is sweet. The story is told solely in dialogue, so this might be easier for one-on-one or small group reading than for large group storytime.

Age range: 2-5
Themes: Rain, Friends, Social Emotional Learning

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story about a little boy and his mother going out and enjoying their day despite the rain. Meanwhile, a grumpy old man is cranky and annoyed by the rain and is making everyone around him upset. The little boy is able to cheer up the old man by a simple act of kindness. A wonderful lesson on sharing kindness with others and having a positive attitude. Simple text and pictures. The sparse text encourages the reader to discuss the story and pictures more. My three year old loved this story about “the grumpy old man.”

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lluvia/Rain is a cute book written in both Spanish and English that tells the story of a boy brightening a stranger's rainy day and teaches children who to find ways to enjoy even "bad" or rainy days. We see the boy wake up excited about the rain, jumping in puddles, and ordering cocoa and cookies with his mother. On the other hand, the man wakes up feeling grumpy, cursing the rain, and being short with everyone he sees until the two cross paths. The text is adorable:

"Is it raining cats and dogs?"

"It's raining frogs and pollywogs!"

[Leticia · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know I love me some Christian Robinson. It would have been 5 stars, my only issue is it wasn't really a good read-aloud. It didn't really flow and when read aloud to little ones, it's not apparent who is saying what, or why. I kind of had to improvise and add in some "___ said" or "because..." and really emphasize the changes in voice and tone between characters so that Violet would understand what was going on. Its probably better read by older kids, which also doesn't make sense given that it is so short with such little text involved. Oh well.