This Is the Rain

by Lola M. Schaefer, Jane Wattenberg (Illustrator)

You swim in it.
You take a bath in its,
You brush your
teeth with it.
You splash it.
You drink it.
You flush the
toilet with it.
It is 65% of you.
Water,
Where does it
come from?
Where does it go?

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Storytime, Childrens, Nature

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Lola M. Schaefer is an educator, writer, and gardener, and the author of many acclaimed books for children about math, art, science, technology, animals, and nature. She uses shovels, hoes, rakes, and scissors when she works in her garden. Lola M. Shaefer grew up in Indiana, and now lives in northern Georgia.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

The illustrations are remarkably striking and unusual, and I just loved them.

The sort of cumulative story, told in rhyme, tells about the life cycle of water on earth through history and in the present, and there is a short description in the back: “The Water Cycle on the Planet Earth.” It’s basically a non-fiction book but it reads like fiction, and it can be enjoyed by both very young children and school aged children.

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Countdown to Kindergarten. Letter R. Rain cycle. Not the best (boring, actually) but passible for what I needed.

[Morgan Haught]

Summary:
"This Is the Rain" by Lola M. Schaefer is a nonfiction book about the cycle of rain. This book describes how rain is formed, how it comes down, and the uses rain has for our planet. It starts off in the ocean and how the rain is made from there and how it works its way around our Earth. This book shows the different animals, plants, and even the different places on Earth that use rain.
Analysis:
This book was written in a way that added on each sentence after each page. Although this book was very informative, it was slightly scattered. Some of the illustrations were realistic but some of them were not, which made the pictures confusing. The illustrations were also jumbled all over the page which distracted the reader from the words.
How I can use this book:
This book would be great to use with younger elementary school readers when talking about the rain cycle. The words are very easy to understand it does not go into depth about the cycle. I could use this book in a science class with young children to get them started on how rain works and how it is used in the water cycle.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The water cycle is introduced in a cumulative "House that Jack Built"-structured type of story. The collage-style illustrations are unique, but have a dated look in this day and age. It's doubtful the young audience will mind much, however.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

a refrain building book about the water cycle beginning with the ocean and showcasing evaporation. Preschool and up.

[Ashley Sabatino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice picture book to teach the water cycle.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

great preschool nonfiction piece

[Naira Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be used to teach the water cycle and has good illustrations that correlate to what happens during the different stages of the water cycle.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book! It’s informational on what happens when it rains. It also repeats what happened on the page before so it helps children with their repetition skills.

[Dana Still · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin text: This book would be a great pairing with Watch over our Water by Lisa Bullard. This book is full of wonderful illustrations and is written as a poem. The book talks about the water cycle with rhyming. The twin text book talks about keeping our water clean both work well together as one talks about how our water is around and has been around for thousands of years, keeping it clean is important to us and our future generations.

[Mikayla Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where does the water come from? It begins in the ocean, which the sun warm. Then vapor comes up into the sky. The gray clouds hold the vapor, which it the rain. The rain lands in many different places on earth.

This book was cute. I like the way it took you through the water cycle with a rhyme.

I would use this book to help kids understand the water cycle. It takes it down to younger kids levels.

[Arlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic moment of youth, retold via a wonderful relationship between a wise grandfather and a brave grandson. With exquisitely beautiful artwork to boot! This grandfather is a master at allowing his grandson to make the discoveries...

[Jeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pictures are abstract...I like prettier pictures, but it has a good, rhyming way to tell the life cycle of water.

[John]

Good for storytimes due to design!

[Jennifer (sullivan) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book/Poetry

This book is a good read for children trying to understand what weather is and how rain is formed

[Jessica Vu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for weather/science. Helps children to understand the water cycle. Have children write about all the things they can do with water.

Rhyming

Sequencing the cycle

Interesting pictures

[Kim Foy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful depiction of the water cycle and what happens to rain once it falls from the sky. Children will enjoy these colorful illustrations.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, colorful picture book about the water cycle. Paints a good picture, due to great illustrations and even better text. Good for really young kids such as kindergarten or first grade.

[Carol Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this will be a great addition to my April Showers bring May Flowers storytime. Bright illustrations with a basic explanation of the water cycle.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the illustrations and how everything rhymes. Could see reading this to 1st or 2nd grade class.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of "House that Jack Built" sort of stories, and this is no exception. And the art style, while creative, really didn't appeal to me at all.

[Conquering · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic book to introduce the concept of a water cycle to preschoolers.