Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash!

by Yuko Ohnari, Emily Balistrieri (translator), Koshiro Hata (illustrator)

A young boy celebrates a refreshing storm in this joyous picture book about experiencing with all your senses a cloudburst of rain on a hot summer day

A boy looks up at the sky and smells the air as the first raindrops hit the ground. He listens as it begins to pour, observing all the symphony of sound this welcome downpour makes.

He feels the water droplets on his skin and sees little rivulets of water on the sidewalk. “Badadada”: he hears as the rain hits his yellow umbrella, “Ker-sploosh” as he jumps in a puddle.

This boy uses all his senses to experience a refreshing summer storm. Koshiro Hata’s illustrations revel in the joy of nature in Yuko Ohnari’s new book featuring expressive onomatopoeia to sound out and enjoy. You’ll definitely want to play outside the next time it rains.

Perfect for units on weather and senses—but also just a sweet and happy picture book to enjoy together.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Nature, Plays, Fiction, Japan

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2025

Reviews

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! A celebration of a deluge chock full of thrilling onomatopoeias and gorgeous illustrations.

Themes: Rain, Sound
Age range: Toddler-Early Elementary

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, that the rest of us could embrace the rain like the young boy in this picture book [3.5 for me!]! The text and digital artwork bring to mind Karen Hesse's Come On, Rain! (1999), illustrated by Jon J Muth. Both picture books effectively evoke that feeling so familiar in the summer when temperatures and the humidity are almost unbearable and there's so much longing for anything that will cool things off, even for just a minute or two. The author builds the tension quite effectively as dark clouds move in, and raindrops begin to fall. The look of wonder on the boy's face and those evocative words ["PLIP! PLIP! PLIP!" (unpaged)] capture this experience perfectly as anyone who's been in his shoes surely knows. At first, he shelters under a bright yellow umbrella, but eventually he tosses it aside and embraces the deluge. There are several pages that acknowledge the powerful drops, and some interesting visual perspectives, including a view of the boy's ankles and then his knees and calves as he splashes about in a water puddle. He's soaked to the bone, but that doesn't bother him. It's almost as though he and the rain have finished a successful playdate, and as he heads inside his home, where water is pouring from the gutters, he looks forward to another session. But as the final page shows, maybe not in the bathtub. This picture book, originally published in Japan, is a delightful choice for a read aloud.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did you like about the book? An amusing onomatopoeic story with breathtaking illustrations. The author and illustrator team created the book in Japanese and it was then translated to English. The story is told in simple black text, while the storm sounds are written in yellow letters that change in size and direction. A child bemoans the heat, when suddenly they see gray clouds approaching, and the storm descends. The child’s face comically depicts an emotional journey. They go from shock at the rain, to playful joy at the puddles, to calm acceptance as they drop their umbrella to feel the rain on their face. The protagonist is a child of unspecified gender with light skin and black hair who reads as Asian. 

The illustrations cover the two-page spread and convey the beauty and emotions of a summer rainstorm. The art has a layered effect reminiscent of charcoal or paint on top of crisp digital backgrounds. The vibrant colors of the yellow umbrella and the green grass pop against the wispy trails of white and gray rain. The different angles of the pictures give gravity to the storm. The perspective changes first to peeking through blades of grass and jumping bugs, and later to looking straight up at falling rain. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: It's sooo hot! The ground's burning hot! Hot, hot! Huh? Clouds. Dark clouds. They're coming this way! Plip! Plip! Plip! It's raining. Plip! plip! plip! The drops are big! It smells like the sky. It smells like the ground, too. BADA-BADA-BADA. BADA-BADA-BADA. PLIP. PLIP. BADA. PLAM-PL-PLAM. PLIP. BADA-BADA. My umbrella's a drum.

Premise/plot: A young boy enjoys a rain storm. Downpour was originally published in Japan in 2018. It has recently been translated into English and published in the United States. In some ways, it's a simple book with a simple story: a boy celebrating RAIN. But it's told in a rhythmic, playful way.

My thoughts: Do I love it more than Umbrella? No. I want to be upfront about that. I love and adore Taro Yashima's UMBRELLA. A thousand stars. A million stars. All the stars. By far my favorite picture book ever-ever-ever. (Taro Yashima was a Japanese artist who immigrated to the United States in 1939. He wrote and illustrated children's books.) But this book comes close--not in artistic style of the illustrations--but in capturing the simple joys of the rhythm of the rain. In the playfulness of language, perhaps. As far as the art goes, there are a few spreads that I absolutely LOVE. So I definitely recommend Downpour! But if you haven't read Umbrella, check that one out too!

[Benjamin Ludwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book, and loved it.

It’s rare that a book can capture all five senses so intensely. A joy to read aloud, Downpour follows a young boy as a rainstorm descends upon him. His senses open and blossom in the pouring rain, and he comes to view the storm as a close friend, someone who he looks forward to seeing again soon after the rain ends.

Translated from the Japanese, this book is perfect for read-alouds and can be viewed as performance literature. It’s filled with plips, plops, splooshes, and pleks, all of which work together to create a raucous verbal symphony. The story and artwork will help young readers perceive the rain as an invitation to engage the natural world as a companion, and to let loose one’s own innate sense of playfulness.

The art gushes happiness. Joy is expressed not only in the character, but in the rain and water itself. Scenes in which the characters is immersed in intense, falling rain are the most evocative.

Young readers are going to want to play in the rain after reading this book! Well beyond puddle-hopping, Downpour encourages us to embrace and invite nature into our lives.

Lots of fun! You’ll never look at rain the same way again!

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has fun onomatopoeia, vivid illustrations, and expressive text that show a boy's enthusiasm for being outside in rainy weather. This picture book represents a child's perspective in a very convincing way, and the illustrations are marvelous. The ending is also perfect!

There are so many books about rain that I didn't expect this one to wow me, but it really did. The showstopping illustrations come from multiple angles and perspectives, and they also show the rain speed and different light levels in a realistic and artful way. This is SO GOOD, and it will make a wonderful read-aloud.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange I don’t really like rainy dark days, but I love rain especially all the types of rain drops, their feel and their sound in the warm summer days of playing in the rain in the grass and on the sidewalk. This title captures all of that in sight and sound. This young boy enjoys the entire experience and isn’t afraid to experience all the sensations of the rain experience, him and his yellow umbrella.
Good title for young preschoolers as the illustrations are large, uncluttered, and colorful.
This is a translation from Japan where it was published in 2018 and published in the USA in 2025.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read an advanced digital copy. Absolutely adorable story and illustration drenched with childlike wonder at the simple pleasures (like a rainy deluge!) Cheery tone, fun onomatopoeia, and lusciously textured illustrations make this a fun read aloud for kids and a pleasant way for parents to reconnect with their childhood selves. Dynamic point of view on every spread. cute endpapers. This is translated from the original Japanese in an adequate way. I would read more from this husband/wife team. A delight!

[Hailey Vittrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book as a DRC. The description of Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! reads, "A drenching summer downpour becomes a glorious sensory experience for a boy who chooses to savor every drop of rain." This is an accurate description and a joy to read, as the protagonist enjoys a rainy day, onomatopoeia and all. He even takes some of the rain sounds to be dialogue in a creative sort of game where he talks to the rain drops while he is walking outside.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young, dark-haired boy enthusiastically narrates his experience of a downpour. "Run and kick it! Jump and... KER-SPLASH" Dramatic, big format images in pencil, gouache and digital techniques convey the child's wild enthusiasm. Occasionally the narration feels less inspiring "Ready? Here I go! Let's play some more! Let's play! Yeah, let's play! Let's play! A great, simple, story to inspire a young reader to enjoy the rain.

[Rachel Huntsman-Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an engaging book! Ohnari and Hata's story engages multiple senses, you can hear the rain like a drum, smell it, feel it as you kick through puddles, and of course see how it beautifully pours down in the artwork. This Japanese import was expertly translated for an English audience. Kids will love hearing adults read the funny otomatopoeic words aloud and may request afterwords to feel an inside rainstorm in the bathtub just like our main character.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

This was a fun book. You could feel the joy of the boy radiating from the pages. I loved all of the onomatopoeia that was included (although I think I might struggle if tasked with reading this aloud). The book conveys the feeling of a super hot day and the rainstorm that relieves you.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

About rain being fun and welcome on a very hot day.

Lots of onomatopoeia (I'd love to know about the translation process for this) for rain, with many variations.

The different perspectives in the illustration here were very cool.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt nostalgic, more than contemporary. When rainstorms were more predictable and less deadly.

The advent of supercells and more and more dangerous lightning and flash flooding gave me an uneasy feeling rather than joyful.

[Libby Burak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book with super good illustration. This book has lots of onomtopias and show how hard that rain is falling. This book talks about the rain and it shows how fun it is to play in the rain. This would be fun to read to young students on a rainy day.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up because I enjoyed the idea of playing with the rain and I thought the ending was cute. (However, I don't know that parents would appreciate their children getting the idea.) Plus, the Japanese setting was neat.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy describes a summer rainstorm in simple, sensory terms with lots of onomatopoeia that make this story a delight to read aloud to youngsters. Evocative artwork with bright colors and playful action adds visual pleasure to the jazzy syncopation of the rainsong.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a hot, sticky day, a thunderstorm rolls through. A child goes out to play in the rain with an umbrella.

Beautiful illustrations...but some parents might struggle with making the "words" into a fun rhythm.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that feels like you're out in the rain. To read it out loud requires a solid commitment to ridiculous varieties of onomatopoeia, but I can see how that would make the entire experience fun for everyone.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book! I would love to play in the rain!

[Sarah BT]

This could be a great book for a musical/weather storytime.

[Carol Farrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book on the first page! From the illustration style to the simple text, kids will absolutely delight in this book and will want it read to them over and over!

[CONSTANCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book that has so many fun sounds for the reader to make that your littlest ones will mimic about the sounds the rain makes not only coming down, but after it lands on the ground. So cute.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharing this book with preschoolers today!

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

more of a summer-rain book for my location, not spring. fun sounds and olders like making their own sounds before we see what the book says.

[Leslie Sachlis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever played in and with the rain? If not, this interactive picture book will teach you how to do it joyously!

[Y.Poston]

cute rain experience book

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great book to share with our outdoor Ed teachers…finding the joy in rain!

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

giving it 5 stars because I think the illustrations are beautiful!!!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book to read aloud! It's beautifully illustrated, and I'm so grateful that Emily Balistrieri took on the challenge of translating a book full on onomatopoeia