Puddle

by Hyewon Yum

One rainy day, a little boy is upset because he can't go out and play. His mom comes up with a way to keep him entertained--by drawing a picture of herself and him going outside, playing in the rain, and splashing in a giant puddle. They have so much fun drawing themselves that they decide to venture out and make the most of the rainy weather.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens, Family, Storytime, Fiction, Drawing

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2016

About the author

Hyewon Yum is the author and illustrator of several acclaimed books for children. She has received the Society of Illustrator's Founder's Award, the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, an Honorable Mention for the Bologna Ragazzi Award, and the Golden Kite Award for her work. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Alexa Marshall]

Text to Self Connection

This story reminded me of this one time that my babysitter, my sisters, and I were walking back home from the pool when we were kids. The weather was starting to get really weird--very big dark clouds and thunder rumbling in the distance. We had to leave once my babysitter saw lightning and I was really mad at the weather, just like Billy was in this story. On our walk back from the pool, it started to downpour. We all were already in our swimsuits so we weren't really upset over the rain, and it ended up being really fun playing in the puddles and splashing each other--especially when my sisters and I ganged up on splashing our babysitter, Andrea.
Like Billy in Puddle, I was mad at the gloomy, rainy weather, but by the end of both his story and mine, we still found a way to enjoy the rain that day.

[Brianne]

"Puddle" by Hyewon Yum (2016-2017 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Winner)

Concerning a text-to-self connection, this picture book brought to mind a frequent occurrence within my classroom, indoor recess. Due to the winter weather, it has been quite some time since the students have been able to enjoy the outdoors, to play on their favorite recess equipment, breathe in the fresh air, as well as chase each other in a game of tag. I have one student in mind that has displayed much dislike at the mere mention of “inside recess.” He has taken to withdrawing from peers to a corner of the room, crossing his arms and stating, “I hate inside recess! I want to go outside!” I have tried many strategies, such as incorporating “gonoodle” active videos, music, free choice stations that house playdough, art tools, computers, blocks, toy cars and ramps, and legos. Then one day, just as the mother chose to do in the text, I began playing with one of the tools at my disposal. I began the construction of a “castle,” using large legos. Slowly, my student inched closer and closer to my area, and began to “teach me” the correct way to begin the castle. Soon after, he joined me in the construction process, and has since, been greatly enjoyed demonstrating his knowledge about legos.

In relation to text-to-text, Puddle brought to mind other picture books I have read in the past. Many characters within the texts struggled to search for engaging activities to keep their minds off the dismal weather. This text held a unique spin, as the characters used pictures to collaborate on a story, and then chose to bring to the story to life by going for a “real walk” in the rain.

As for a text-to-world connection, through photographs, posting online, and media coverage, it is widely known that children are capable of using puddles and other forms of weather to enjoy the small moments in life. The imagination and mischievousness of children is often brought forth, through the splashing of a puddle, the wet snow trickling down one’s neck from a snowball, or by the crunching of fallen leaves. I often find myself amazed at their laughter, at their ability to ignore the bitter cold, and at their passion to explore their environment through play with their peers and family.

Reference:
Yum, H. (2016). Puddle. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers.

[Elizabeth]

This is the only one of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature picturebooks I've read that doesn't clearly mark its characters as APA -- though possibly there are visual cues I'm missing?

The GR blurb (like the publisher's summary) calls our child protagonist a boy, but the text is all just a conversation between the child and parent, so you can gender the child however you want.

We open with our petulant child angry-bored because it's raining outside so they can't do any of the fun things they would normally do.

Their mother suggests they could have fun by drawing -- which the child aggressively rejects, but as Mom starts to draw, the child is quickly drawn in.  First, coming up close and asking what Mom is drawing, then making requests of stuff for Mom to include, then sufficiently drawn in that when the child says, "But there's no rain!" (re: the drawing) and Mom says, "Right. Why don't you draw the rain?" the child says, "Okay! I'm really good at this. Look."

The progression is quick but felt really believable to me.

I did sometimes struggle to keep track of who was saying which line (the mother's lines are in red, and the child's in black).

The child eventually has so much fun drawing adventures in the rain that they ask to go outside and play in the real rain.

A fun story.

[Caurie Kuzelka]

I can relate to this book with text-to-text. I babysit a little boy who used to love Peppa Pig books and in one of the books I can remember Peppa wanting to play outside but couldn't because it was rainy outside. They spend all day trying to find other things to do, but were very bored. When the rain finally cleared, Peppa and her brother went outside to splash around in the muddy puddles (which I recall they did a lot:) In this book, Puddle, the boy is very bored and so the mom and him draw pictures of them playing outside. Eventually, they just embrace the rain and go outside and play in the puddles. The book made me think of the Peppa Pig book and all the other books I have read to the boy I watch and it made me smile!

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really sweet story about a mom entertaining her bored son on a rainy day by drawing the two of them out on a walk. By the end of the story she has convinced him to go on a real walk to splash in puddles. The motif of the mom’s art as a story-within-the-story works amazingly well to hook in young readers. My 3 y.o. had me read it to him twice, then immediately wanted to go draw a story of his own. This would be a great pick for a preschool story time.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and clever picture book about a rainy day and how to fill it.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grumpy child on a rainy day is pulled into his mother's drawing. It feels very interactive for a 2D book, and it's fun to watch the mood turnaround. The artwork seems simple, but captures emotions vividly.

[Lynsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a charming book, and very apropos considering that I read it on a rainy day myself. I like how it encourages creativity.

[Jelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. A good reminder that rain is only wet and we should still go outside sometimes. Childhood is made for the joy of jumping in puddles.

[Therese Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

We wholly endorse the lovely illustrations, and the patience of the sister, helping her little brother survive a rainy day. We like puddles too!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet mother-son relationship. And my kids liked being able to see the kid's change of mood from beginning to end.

[Curt]

Text to self

I can see my mom and I in the characters of this book. Growing up, I never saw myself in the character's in the pictures. This book doesn't teach anything about their culture, but drawing characters of different cultures in a simple story about getting through a rainy day is a great way to show diversity and provide kids with a view of the world and themselves.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first big rain storm after winter when the ground has yet to thaw is a laughter factory. If it happens to rain all morning but decides to stop before lunch with sunshine breaking through the gathered clouds, it's cause for rejoicing by the adults and students in an elementary school. Absolutely no one likes indoor recess.

When your school library has a wall of windows facing the playground you have a front row seat to the production of comedy beginning almost immediately. With standing water everywhere, it's an open invitation irresistible to any child. If one of the neighborhood dogs should join the hoopla, it is so much the better. Puddle (Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, March 8, 2016) written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum is a rainy day romp; characters rejoicing in the potency of imagination and the sheer fun to be found when rain falls.

My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just in time for springtime showers comes this charming picture book! A little boy is completely bummed out because the rainy weather is ruining all of his fun plans for the day. He can't go to the playground, play soccer or ride his bike. His mother tries to get him to stop moping around and come and draw a picture. When he declines to come over and draw, she starts drawing without him. Like all curious little kids, he comes over and sees that she's drawing a picture of his umbrella. Before long the two of them are drawing themselves in a rainy day scene complete with a jump in a puddle. The illustrations are awesome and fit the story so well. This would be fun to read to bored youngsters on rainy days for sure!

[Sydney Ossege · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was something that I do not think I have ever seen a story line before. A mother and son stay inside on a rainy day, whereas the son wishes to go outside and play in the rain. Im not sure exactly why, but I can say that I had wanted to as a kid go out and play in the puddles when it is raining. This book brought out the child that I once was and I loved it. Eventually, the mother and son do go outside after they finished the drawing of them having fun outside. I believe that this book can be used to show that what you picture inside your mind can happen. The little boy envisioned himself playing outside, drew it down to show how fun he could have, and in the end he got to fulfill his wish.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a hint of other books that begin with drawing, like Harold and The Purple Crayon, Hyewon Yum begins this story with a young child upset and bored. It's raining! Mom says come draw, but no, not even that helps, until Mom draws a blue umbrella, and the child moves closer, and asks if she will draw him holding it. You might guess the progress made, but there are later surprises too, and lots of fun with puddles! The book is cute, makes imagination seem like something that will fill up a day that has started off boring.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a dollop of metafiction & a playful "I'm bored" scenario, a mother finds an imaginative activity to entertain her child on a rainy day. The childlike illustrations and the text with two distinct voices authentically captures the loving parent / child relationship. A joyful puddle jumping picture book!

[Liza Nahas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute & fun story about the power of art & imagination. And, jumping into puddles!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story in which art and imagination magically comes alive.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant how story is a bout a drawing that morphs into a story then back to a drawing then becomes reality. Subtle and quiet but really, really smooth and clever.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book.

[Shelby Santullo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puddle is about a boy named Billy and he is upset that it is raining, because he is stuck inside with nothing to do. His mother tells him they can have fun at home and asks him if he wants to draw. Billy says no, so she starts drawing by herself. His mother begins to draw a picture of Billy's blue umbrella and asks if she can draw him holding it. Before you know it she draws a picture of him and her with their umbrellas in the rain. As his mother is drawing the picture, they create a story. Billy sees a puddle in the drawing and wants to jump in it, then Billy suggests that they go outside and play in the rain because they have umbrellas and raincoats. Billy goes outside and starts splashing in the puddles. I liked this story because it shows lots of imagination and how you can have fun on a rainy day.

[Sunah Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawing pictures with stories are common but compelling activity parents can do at home. In this book, Puddle by Hyewon Yum, a boy hates rainy days because he has to stay at home, feeling boredom. His mother suggests to draw something for fun, but he is hesitant to join. When his mother starts to draw an umbrella on a sketchbook with a story, however, he engages in the activity in spite of himself. After all, they go out and enjoy puddles in a rainy day.
Illustrations are drawn with water colors and crayons, and these artistic tools represent the warm and playful moods of the story pretty well. Regarding the conversation between mom and her son, the color and font of the texts distinguish their sentences. Mom’s comments are in red and italicized, while the boy’s comments are in black and non-italicized. It would help children to understand the story easily as well.

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Puddle / written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum -- New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, c2016. (36 pages)

SUMMARY: A mother and son use their imagination to have fun on a rainy day. (verso)

REVIEW: What do you do on a rainy day when you can't go outside -- draw pictures and a simple story of you and your mother and your dog walking in the rain -- and then decide to make the story come true and go for a walk in the rain (circular storyline)

Interesting precept but didn't hold my attention very well. Art OK but not to my liking. The mother's dialogue is in red font while the son's is in black font. The pictures mirror the characters who mirror the pictures. I do like how the mother is able to become less strict with the boy and the puddle in the end because she already experienced the fun of it through the story they created together.

[Alyssa Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Puddle" by Hyewon Yum is an adorable story about a little boy who hates rainy days. He does not like them because he has to stay inside on rainy days. When his mother notices his moping, she suggests that they draw together. He is reluctant at first but eventually gives in to the drawing. The mother draws a picture of an umbrella and the two draw pictures of them walking in the rain. The mother then suggests that they actually take a walk in the rain. I liked this story because it is something that children can relate to, as they have all experienced a rainy day and hate being stuck indoors. The young boy also jumps in puddles on his walk, which is always fun and tempting for little ones. This is a great book that hones in on childhood innocence and their need for excitement and exploration.

[Ying Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember the time when you feel bored and cannot go out and play because of rain? The boy in this story feels the same way as you. Feeling grumpy about not being able to play outside, the boy is not interested to do anything. However, as his mom continuously invites him to join her to draw, the boy begins to be attracted to the drawing that his mom created, and both of them use their imagination to make the raining day the most wonderful bonding time together. The simple but vivid illustrations complement the story. It is an good book for parents to read with children together as the written texts shown in two different colors with red ones representing Mom's thoughts and words, and black ones for the boy's.

[Theresa Worona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all about what to do on a rainy day when all your plans get ruined, which is very relatable especially around this time of year. With all the young boys plans now gone, his mother decided to start drawing with him to spark his interest and kill his boredom. the pictures in this story work fantastic with the context within them. they are simple, yet so intricate with the colors and the designs. It can give the readers some ideas on what to do on their rainy days and shows a sweet relationship between a son and mother and shows that even a picture can make the rain go away. the text was not very complex but not very short either, it was right in the middle which made it an enjoyable read.

[Cindy Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hyewon Yum's Puddle won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature in 2017. The simple story line of a mother and son's interaction with beautifully drawn illustrations show why Hyewon Yum deserved the award. It is a relatable moment between any parent and child, when the child feels bored with nothing to do. Yum's way of involving illustrations to create the flow of the story was genius and as a teacher, I appreciated the subtle hint of how details are important in illustrations to express mood, setting, and story. The way she replicated the illustrations in the story to being the plot was a creative touch. Overall, the story was short but was able to express family dynamics, creative outlets, and a child's imagination all in one.

[Dana Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puddle is a sweet story about a mother entertaining her son on a rainy day. At first, the mother asked her son if he wanted to draw a picture to have fun at home, but he refused. His mother decided to draw anyways. Shortly after, her son became interested and wanted her to draw more. Finally, he ended up getting involved. It is interesting because for a while the story is told through the illustrations that the mother and son are drawing while the story is taking place. It shows the drawings they were making and their hands adding to each one. This makes a story within a story. Then, they decide to go outside where their drawings become a reality. Overall, this is a cute story about a boy and his mom having fun even on a rainy day.

[Madison Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puddle was written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum. It is a good book for children to learn about behavior. Throughout the story the main character is grumpy about it being a rainy day. He then starts to draw with his mother and realizes that rainy days aren’t so bad. He and his mother then go for a walk in the rain and he find a puddle and jumps in it. It teaches children to always look for the positives in life. The genre of this story is realistic fiction because this could happen but it is not based on a true story. Overall the story, Puddle, is a good book that teaches about the positives in life.