Rain Falls

Outside Our Window

by Mélina Mangal, Stella Lim (Illustrator)

Join cousins Kamali and Josiah in exploring the sensations of walking in the rain.

In Rain Falls, two young children, guided by an adult, take an autumn walk through a city neighborhood, splashing in puddles and squishing through mud. They notice how the rain changes everything around them—the ground is soaked, the leaves are soggy, and raindrops dance all around. But rain doesn’t last forever. When the sun begins to peek out from behind the clouds, they enjoy feeling the warm sunshine on their smiling faces. Rain brings rainbows and makes the world sparkle and shine.

Rain Falls:

Nurtures Early Learning Skills: From raindrops to the sun peeking out from behind the clouds, children learn about the changes in weather and nature, and how rain comes and goes.
Relatable Language for Little Learners: Simple text and vivid illustrations are used throughout the toddler book to help little ones connect to nature in a fun and easy-to-understand way.
Includes Helpful Tips for Parents & Caregivers: This children's book features additional guidance and engaging toddler activities to help children learn more about how rain transforms their own neighborhoods.
Outside Our Window Board Books Series: This book is part of the Outside Our Window Board Books series, which encourages children—especially those in urban environments—to explore, protect, and delight in nature. Each book in the series focuses on one feature of the natural world (like rain), one sense (touch), and one communication or relationship skill (change and flexibility). The books emphasize community and encourage children and families to explore the natural world around them.

Genres: Childrens

24 pages, Board Book

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

Mélina Mangal writes picture books, biographies, and short stories that focus on connections with nature and culture. She is the author of The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award, Jayden’s Impossible Garden, named One of the Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature, and the sequel, Jayden’s Secret Ingredient. Her latest YA short story appears in Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities. Mélina also works as a school library media teacher in Minneapolis, spreading book love daily.

Reviews

[Julie MacKay]

5 stars
A great new picture book encouraging children to enjoy nature – rain in this case! It’s easy to dislike rainy days, but this book helps us to look at them with a positive mindset. Mum and the kids go outside in the rain and enjoy hearing the rain and observing its impact on the environment. The kids also enjoy the puddles, mud and splashing. As we read this book, children also learn about the benefits of rain – giving water to plants, trees and animals. Ultimately, there are lots of reasons for us to be happy about rain and we can also go out and enjoy it!

There are short sentences, which are nice and simple for young children, and I like how there were wordplays on some pages. The illustrations were all great too and fit the story well.

I love the ‘Note to caregivers’ at the end with some suggestions of activities that they can do with the children to help them appreciate the rain and think about it with curiosity.

This book will suit children and their carers/educators who enjoy exploring nature, and who don’t mind having wet, muddy children, as I’m sure this will be one of the results of reading this book!

Thank you to Free Spirit Publishing and NetGalley for sharing an advance reader copy of this book with me. All opinions are my own.

[January · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain Falls by Mélina Mangal, illustrated by Stella Lim (Nov. 2026)
Outside Our Window #7
24-page Board Book

Genre: Children's Fiction, Multicultural, Nature, Parenting, Families, Relationships, Diversity & Multicultural, Science & Nature > Weather; Social Themes > Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance

Movie Rating Equivalent: G, TV-Y, Ages 1-4

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🍂🍁🌧🌦☔️🧥🌂🌈

Grows with Your Child: The Perfect Rainy Day Board Book

From pretoddlers to preschoolers, the Outside Our Window board books are perfect for any early education classroom! In each story, cousins Kamali, 4, and Josiah, 3, get outside to explore nature.

​In Rain Falls, they discover how rain is a part of nature. As they prepare for a trip to the library, they dress in raincoats, jackets, and rain boots, grabbing an umbrella to walk in the drizzle on an autumn day. The illustrator, Stella, does a fantastic job of capturing all the colors of fall, while Mélina uses poetic words to observe how rain is beneficial to sidewalks, plants, and animals. Naturally, Kamali and Josiah find ways the rain is beneficial to them as well and have a wonderful time on their walk.

​This is a brilliantly layered book that adapts beautifully as your child matures. The text is straightforward, but the vibrant, detail-rich artwork does a lot of the heavy lifting. A one-year-old will happily absorb the bright visuals during a quick read-through, while older toddlers and preschoolers can engage in deeper discussions about the busy scenes on every page. The final section rounds out the experience perfectly, offering a caregiver's note, accessible nonfiction facts about the water cycle, and interactive activities to turn a rainy afternoon into a fun learning opportunity.

​Recommend to others: Absolutely! This is a perfect collection for any home or classroom library catering to infants up through preschoolers, and I would even say up to first grade.

Outside Our Window Board Books
1. Birds Sing Their Words (2025)
2. Trees Stand Tall (2025)
3. Squirrels Scamper (2025)
4. Wind Whirls (2025)
5. Flowers Bloom (2026)
6. Ants Work Together (2026) 📖
7. Rain Falls (2026) 📖
8. Snow Sparkles (2027)

📖 = Read

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Free Spirit Publishing via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Featuring: Rain Walk, Family Relationships, Connecting With Nature, Community - People and Animals; Note to Caregivers, Activities

[Darya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series of picturebooks for the youngest readers, "Outside Our Window", by Mélina Mangal and Stella Lim, will have two new titles over the next few months, dedicated to the exploration of fall- and winter-related natural phenomena. (And rain "falls" not only in "fall", obviously, but this one is pretty obvious in its vibes.) I like the series a lot for how it does not simply provide information about nature and its elements, but invites children to explore it in a very sensuous way. Splash in the puddles, make snow angels, scamper with the squirrels: you are part of nature, not a detached observer. Well, sorry to the parents whose kids will get extra dirty after following this inspiration.

I should also mention the seriality of the series. It's not that the installments depend on one another or require knowledge of the previous ones — objectively, with board books like these, they are unlikely to be collected and read in order, so they are not designed with that expectation. But if someone has more than one, they will get the feeling of returning to the same world inhabited by beloved characters. In this one, for instance, the squirrels make a cameo appearance, a reminder of my favorite installment in the series.

"Rain Falls" will be out on Nov. 24, 2026.

Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to review this title through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own (from someone who works with children’s literature professionally).

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Rain Falls with my 4-year-old granddaughter, and she loved it! She especially loved the artwork and spent a lot of time looking at all the pictures while we were reading.

It's a really cute little book about two cousins going for a walk in the rain, splashing in puddles, walking through the mud, and noticing all the ways everything around them changes when it rains. It's simple enough for younger kids to follow, but there was still plenty for us to talk about as we went through the pages.

I really liked the illustrations, too. They are bright and engaging, and they definitely kept my granddaughter's attention. At four years old, she's pretty good at letting me know when a book isn't working for her, so the fact that she stayed interested and enjoyed looking at everything is always a win for me.

I also liked that it teaches a little bit about weather and nature without making it feel like a lesson. It was just a sweet, fun book for us to read together.

Kenzie approved, and Gigi approved too! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Rain Falls.

[NICODESO · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Rain Falls' by Melina Mangal invites toddlers and young children to discover the simple pleasures of a rainy day. The story follows two cousins as they splash through puddles and soggy leaves, stopping to notice the birds, squirrels and other creatures coming out to enjoy a refreshing drink of rainwater.

The book is full of playful sounds like splish, splash, pitter, patter - making it well-suited to being read aloud. It could become a wonderful storytelling session, with children joining in with the sounds, even adding a few of their own.

There’s also a thoughtful section at the end for parents, caregivers and educators, offering ideas for turning a rainy day into an opportunity for observation and discovery. I really liked the suggestion to watch how the rainwater moves and flows, which leads naturally into the expression “go with the flow.” What a beautiful way for kids to pick up metaphorical language.

Stella Lim’s illustrations are bright, colourful and full of life, adding much to the experience of the book. I suspect quite a few adults will find themselves lingering over them too.

[Julianne Harkleroad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic to be back again with Kamali and Josiah as they explore the world right Outside Our Window in this continuing series! Rain Falls explains what rain is and why it matters in easy to connect with and understand terms and illustrations, encouraging play and curiosity. Perfect for kids aged 0-7 (with bigger kids reading it themselves! 😍), children will learn why rain is important for plants, animals, and people alike! I loved that the rainbow came out at the end of the story (as they reached the library, so fitting!) The ending has more, in-depth descriptions of how rain works with the earth and suggestions for outdoor play that are age appropriate and fun!

Rain Falls is written with alliteration, repetition, and brims with sensory details that give readers the feel of being there IN the rain! The illustrator did a fantastic job showing usually gray and overcast weather as joyful and fun with his colors and focus on the kids and animals activities.

Thank you to Free Spirit Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This board book is part of a great series of nature education books. Each title focuses on a different aspect of nature that kids can enjoy in an urban setting. This board book is about rain, and a mother and two children go walking in the rain together. The writing style is simple and rhythmic for little ones, with lots of action words and alliteration.

This book encourages families to see rain as an opportunity for play and exploration, rather than something to avoid. The story also models nature observation and sensory awareness, and the author's note at the end shares ideas for how parents can enjoy rain with their children.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful, and I really enjoyed the depiction of autumn. This is a great seasonal read for fall, but since rain is the primary focus, the book will stay relevant all year round.

I received a temporary digital copy from the publisher through NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Laura Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cousins Kamali and Josiah are eager to go on a walk around their neighborhood with their caregivers and learn about rain through play.

I loved the bright, colorful illustrations, and the simple, descriptive text - all of which are important to young children. I also appreciated the detailed Caregiver Guide. It features a lot of suggestions for discussion with children, along with the purpose of the Outside Our Window series.

I love the idea behind this sweet book - It's an innovative way to introduce young children to the environment's impact on the weather and vice versa, along with acknowledging the importance of imaginative play in children's development.

I would recommend the book to parents, caregivers, and families to read together, discuss, and use the activities.

I'd like to thank the author and the publisher of this Advanced Reader Cop for allowing me to review this book prior to publication on NetGalley, Amazon, Goodreads and Facebook. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I'm leaving it of my own volition.

[Joey-Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Free Spirit Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

The two cousins have found another piece of nature to explore in the next book within this wonderful series. This time they explore the outside world whilst it’s raining, watching everything the rain does.

I’ve really enjoyed these books in this series, and this one was a perfect addition. I loved seeing that though it was raining they found the joy with it and splashed in puddles, watched it make muddy patches, saw how the water helps the animals, how it grows the plants, wet the leaves, and how it keeps things clean. But also how fun it is when you view it with wonder and excitement.

I loved the big illustrations throughout seeing the children walking to their library playing and enjoying all the rain has to offer along the way, it was also funny seeing the mom with all three umbrellas in the end as the children were busy playing with the rain.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 24 November 2026 - publication day!

4 stars — A lovely, joyful story of rainy-day fun

Rain Falls, illustrated by Stella Lim, has lovely illustrations throughout. It's a good story, well written and easy to follow, and I really liked the characters of Kamali and Josiah.

It's a great book for younger readers and young children to read with a parent, as it nurtures early learning skills. I liked how it covered everything from raindrops to the sun, and the changes in weather and nature — showing how rain comes and goes — making it a really good introduction for little ones.

I also liked the emphasis on community, and how it encourages children and families to explore the natural world around them. A nice extra touch was the helpful tips for parents and caregivers section, adding something useful beyond just the story itself. 4 stars.

[Alex Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how simple, yet effective this children's book is. I feel like it is perfect for all ages, but really especially for those just starting to read or have maybe been reading for a bit and are being introduced to "bigger words."
This focuses on the rain and how rain is not only good for us, but also for the environment! It shows not only children, but adults too, how much we can really appreciate nature for all that it has to offer.
I love how the siblings jumped around in the puddles and were playing together! ☔️

Such a cute read and I am so glad I got the chance to read this before it hit the shelves!

Thank you NetGalley for my copy of this ARC! All opinions are my own and my review reflects as such! 🍁⛈️

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for our Arc copy.

What a cute board book, we did read ours digitally. However, I think the author did such a lovely job taking a rainy day and making it fun. Everything from dancing in the rain, rainbows, jumping in muddy puddles which my little one screamed at me MUDDY PUDDLES! The art was just enough that it wasn't overwhelming and a little could easily follow the story. I did find it to be on the younger side as my little one is 3 but were starting to get into longer books. So I would recommend to a younger audience but we still enjoyed it just wish it lasted a little longer. :)

[Eizzymar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest review for ARC received from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

Rain Falls by Melina Mangal

This is my second book by this author. I absolutely loved the illustrations through out this book. Especially the water dance pages.

The books are easy to read and tend to rhyme. The book ends with a note to caregivers and abundance of information.

💚💜💙Can't help but picture the kids being my own. The adult is my 17 y/o daughter with her younger siblings. 8 y/o girl and 5 y/o boy. Plus we love going to the library.

[Helen Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rain Falls by Mélina Mangal and illustrated by Stella Lim is a celebration of nature right outside your front door.

Why I loved it and think parents and caregivers
The Story: Follows cousins Kamali and Josiah as they explore a city neighborhood during an autumn rainfall.

The Sensory Details: It's packed with soggy leaves, mud-squishing, and dancing raindrops.

The Message: Proves that kids don’t need a sprawling forest to connect with nature and that the city has its own magic.


For toddlers and preschoolers learning about weather and change.

[Darci Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a pre-k teacher this would fit perfectly into our curriculum when we focus on water. It gives children an example of water they see frequently while maybe giving them some new perspective on what they can do even when it is raining. I like the idea of this being a series because kids love to see characters they know in different books. The illustrations are gorgeous, clear, and colorful, and the black representation is subtle and present. This book includes good resources in the back to extend learning either in the classroom or in a home setting.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rain Falls (Outside Our Window Board Books)
by Mélina Mangal
A colorful book about rain and helping children understand rain, and the experience of rain in an educational and fun way. The book is a good black history month book because of the images, adding representation to the classroom. The book ends with suggestions about activities for parents and teachers to celebrate rain, and the water cycle. This book is written for emergent readers with simple text, and parent connections.

[Lydia Lukidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely addition to the Outside Our Window Board Books series! This charming story invites little ones to explore the world around them through the sights and sensations of a rainy-day walk. With engaging language and a wonderful connection to nature, it encourages curiosity, sensory exploration, and an appreciation for the beauty in everyday moments. A great choice for toddlers and preschoolers!

[Kasie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute cute read! I know with kids that rain is often intimidating but this book really helped bring ease to my son that it is not that bad. On the highlighted or bolder words any reader can help emphasize that nature like rain is not all that bad. Illustrations especially the colors were perfect due to it really drawing you in! Will be a definite buy once it hits shelves for our household!

[Christy Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain Falls is another great installment in the outside our window series. It's simple descriptive language makes it a perfect book for a young toddler classroom. I also love the additional tips for caregivers at the end!

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Meg Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book! The text and story are easy to follow, and pair with the pictures well. I love the parent tips section with ideas for activities to do with children to explore the rain!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to review this ARC!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book for little ones. You can read it in less than 5 minutes, so it’s perfect for those times when you need to get the kids to bed, FAST. The pictures are beautiful and it encourages outdoor play.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for allowing me to preview this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Booked Behavior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain Falls by Melina Mangal is such a cute picture book for toddlers and young children. The beautiful, colorful artwork is sure to keep little ones’ attention, and I loved how the story teaches children about rain in such a bright, fun, and engaging way. This would be a lovely addition to any child’s bookshelf!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[✨Little Lit Lady✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My little one absolutely loved this book. The illustrations for this book are so beautifully done. The attention to detail to the illustrations so well done. The story is well crafted for a child and easy to follow.

I want to thank NetGalley, Free spirit, and the author for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[S. N. Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. These thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
When my 3-year-old was asked what he thought of the book, he said "This book was nice."
This was a sweet story about how rain effects the world around us and how we can interact with it. The pictures were nice and the prose simple.
No language. No spice, obviously.

[Kiana Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read this author multiple times with this series, I love the illustrations in the book and that it shows kiddos how to appreciate nature in all forms. I would buy these for my niece and future nephew :)

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

This was a really cute quick read. I absolutely adored the illustration. My family loves rain so my daughter really enjoyed all of the pictures.

[Kimberly Tierney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sweet little book explores the fun and function of rainfall. While it is fun to stomp in the puddles, it also waters the plants and gives animals something to drink. Tiny readers and learners in your life will enjoy the pictures and the knowledge they gain from this book.

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like eating hotdog on the bun. You get to consume the delicious hotdog but something is missing! The ketchup and mustard tandem of course. That's missing in this book that will make it stand out from the rest. Again, the book is good but I wish they give you that extra "magic".

[Cassie Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Rain Falls" is a well written children's story with beautiful illustrations and short and sweet sentences for young readers with repetition and alliteration.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Read_Only_Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

​A wonderfully cheerful book that transforms a wet, gray day into a celebration of nature and curiosity.

​What stands out about Rain Falls is its ability to introduce big concepts in a gentle, age-appropriate way. Mélina Mangal presents rain through a purely positive lens, helping toddlers understand its vital role in nature: quenching the earth, watering trees, and providing birds and furry neighborhood animals with a place to drink and bathe.

​The vibrant artwork by Stella Lim captures the pure bliss of early childhood—splashing in bright raincoats, tapping the mud with sticks, and marveling at a rainbow after the clouds clear.

​I was also deeply impressed by the educational section at the back of the book. The practical tips and discussion prompts for caregivers offer wonderful guidance on sensory play and exploring weather together. It’s practical, beautifully illustrated, and full of warmth.

​(Thank you to NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)