Puddle: A Picture Book About Friendship and Self-Acceptance by Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka for Kids

by Richard Jackson, Chris Raschka (Illustrator)

A surprising, universal, and gorgeously illustrated story about self-acceptance, love, friendship, and the joy of embracing different perspectives, this beautiful picture book by acclaimed author Richard Jackson and two-time Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka presents a puddle with a distinct point of view. Puddle sits despondently in the playground, observing the world around her as she is dimpled by rain, splashed by shoes, piddled on by a poodle, bounced by a basketball, and stirred up by an inquisitive seagull. But when the sun makes a sudden appearance, Puddle meets an admiring new friend who lifts her spirits and makes her feel loved. Richard Jackson’s playful text shines with rhythm, repetition, and surprising turns of phrase, and Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka’s luminous paintings achieve the impossible—oh, sweet Puddle! A memorable story of friendship, love, and changing your point of view.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Poetry, Juvenile, Storytime, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Richard Jackson has been an editor/publisher of children’s books since 1962. He gave the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture in 2005, the year of his official retirement, but is still working--now as an author himself. He lives with his wife and near his grandchildren in Towson, Maryland.

Reviews

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

With rhymed text that splashes across the page, this unusual story gives voices and point of view to the deepest puddle on the playground. A fun experience for youngest, and mentor text for writing craft for older kids.
Raschka art also twists and distorts typical perspective with inverted and partial reflections in the puddle surface, exaggerating his trademark loose images.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has an interesting philosophical bent that I'm not sure comes across for children, but its a unique perspective from both the text and the illustrations.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure loveliness! The lyrical prose, lush illustrations and interesting POV will have young children hanging on every word.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you're trudging through the rain, do you ever take a moment to consider what the puddles think of you? Well, that's precisely what this picture book makes us ponder. Puddle has low self-esteem, wondering if his sisters and brothers are better than him. A seagull swoops by, sneakers splash through, and a dog pees in the puddle. But in the end, puddle is quite happy for the way he mirrors the beautiful colors around him. With bright, bold artwork and onomatopoeia, this book will make excellent discussion for young readers. Watercolor and gouache paint on paper were used to prepare the full-color art.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puddle relates her frustration about her existence until she see herself as beautiful in the ending. I like the reflections in some of the illustrations, in others it’s like she’s actually looking up and we see life through her puddle eyes.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puddle is larger and deeper than the other puddles and the rain just keeps coming. Animals, toys and children stomp through as Puddle longs for a drain. When the sun finally comes out, Puddle is suddenly alight with a reflected rainbow. When a girl stop to admire Puddle’s beauty, they both find contentment. Raschka’s watercolor illustrations brighten along with the story and are a lovely complement to this simple story about anxieties and self-acceptance. Puddle has been reflecting the world around her the whole time, but it takes someone else notice for her to see herself. Recommended for purchase.

[Barbara Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book - visually, poetically, and soulfully. I love how we're given an opportunity to empathize with a puddle - perhaps the least likely thing one would expect to feel for. It speaks to feeling different and finally seeing oneself as wonderful - through her own eyes and the appreciation of another's.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puddle seems to think she isn't appreciated as she is splashed through, piddled in, and stomped on as her brothers and sisters are ignored because of their smaller size. But then something amazing happens that changes her out look on who, and what she is.

[Lisa Boyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dog pee

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chris Raschka’s art is always appealing in its charming smudginess, but his picture book projects have grown more and more inexplicable. Not necessarily in a bad way, but like major Hollywood stars choosing to be in quirky indies. Here his work accompanies odd text voicing the views of a puddle. The puddle is insecure about its size (bigger than its brothers and sisters), and it experiences iffy visitors like a kid with holey shoes and a peeing poodle. Eventually the sun returns, the little sib puddles leave, and the big puddle is admired for its rainbow reflection. Raschka is the perfect choice for this odd tale because the puddle’s visual perspectives are distorted and upside-down and, well, fluid. Cool idea, great artwork, but a possible shelf-sitter.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

With only a focus on one puddle, this time on a school playground, a large one surrounded by smaller 'sisters and brothers, so dainty and sweet,/so shallow'. Soon gone by 'sudden sunshine', this puddle also worries about more rain, a poodle "piddle" in the puddle, and a shoe with two toes showing. More experiences include a duck, being alone, and the final reflection, a surprise. Richard Jackson's words bounce through in quick time as Chris Raschka's illustrations fill the page with color and the slightly distorted view a puddle gives. It's a clever and imaginative book that will be fun to include in a study of water or after a rainstorm, plus considering different perspectives.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

~3.5 Stars~

When I first read this to my child, I wasn't drawn to it. My daughter is 2 years old and she loves puddles so I thought she'd like this book. I didn't think she liked it during the first read through. I was confused for a moment because it was a poem, not a story. So I thought it wouldn't appeal to my daughter but I was wrong! For three nights now she asked for "Puddle" as a bedtime reading book. She loves it! She loves the rainbow that appears in the puddle at the end of the book. The more I read it, the more I enjoy it as well. The illustrations seem more abstract, so it's okay for me.

http://startingsmallreads.blogspot.com

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a difficult time liking this book but am so glad I read it with my first grader who LOVED this book. The unique perspective may be difficult for adults to enter into that fantasy world of what it would be like to be a puddle, but my child easily slipped into that world and felt sad when the puddle felt sad and happy when the puddle felt happy. So glad I read this book with a child to glean their experience as I felt this book a little underwhelming. I'm curious to see how a group of students might experience this book as a read aloud.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I encounter a big puddle on my daily walk, I do everything I can to avoid stepping in the wet, muddy mess. I never stop to consider what the puddle thinks of me and all of the others that walk through it. This gorgeously illustrated picture book shows life from the point of view of the big puddle as it laments all of the birds, feet, and dog piddle that makes it feel big and unattractive. This would be a great book to share with young readers as a way to discuss perspective in literature and maybe even inspire writers to write their own stories from different points of view.

[Alexis Fritz]

Puddle is about a puddle. This puddle is asking itself why it always gets the bird that wants to bathe itself or the dog peeing in this puddle, or the ball splashing in it. Throughout the book, this puddle gets hit with everything, but at the end a rainbow comes out. When the rainbow hits the puddle, the puddle thinks to itself that everything that happened during the day was worth it, because without it, the puddle wouldn't have appreciated the rainbow in it's full effect.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetic text describes the feelings of an anthropomorphized puddle. The puddle feels unappreciated until the sun shines and a rainbow is reflected on her surface. The watercolor illustrations are appropriate for the subject matter. Enjoy for the rhythm and descriptive language. Intended for preschool and lower elementary audiences.

[Aolund · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tells the story, in the form of a poem, of a puddle's day. The anthropomorphized puddle narrates its various thoughts/feelings/experiences. Chris Raschka's accompanying watercolor illustrations are beautiful. This is an odd book! I'm sure there is the perfect reader for it, but it wasn't my fave.

Themes: Rain, Puddles, Weather, Imagination
Age range: 2-5

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a fan of Chris Raschka's illustration style and that impacted my enjoyment of the text. I think the text is a lovely poem that would benefit being read all on one page. The page turns disrupt the flow of the poem.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of a puddle that is not happy being different from the other puddles until something happens that changes his mind. While I think the illustrations are beautiful, I found the story a bit too weird and I couldn't get into it.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book to talk about anthropomorphization as it's a story from a puddle's perspective. We have lots of books from a tree's perspective, but the puddle is something new.

Could have done without the dog piddling in the puddle. But, honestly, kids probably think that's hilarious.

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rainy day or anytime story told from the perspective of a puddle. Raschka does a great job of showing what is going on around the puddle and also reflecting in the what certain images. The ending is a delightful surprise. A good choice for storytime.

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books is written from the point of view of a puddle. I'm not sure if the story itself is exciting enough to make this an enjoyable read, but it is a very different way to approach the story, and could be used as a mentor text.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will kids get what is going on here? No clue. But the art is beautiful and the rhyming text is strange and interesting, so I personally found it to be a delightful read. I'd say try reading it with a child as it should make for a fun conversation!

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realize there are some strong opinions out there about this book. What I liked is that it offers a different perspective (a puddle's POV) that could jumpstart a child's own ideas of what perspective is and encourage them to see things from those other POVs.

[Jaimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so sweet! I loved how the puddle had the choice of what moments to focus on. Not every moment in life is rainbows and hands reaching out, but you can choose to look for those! I loved the repeating phrases, how the words shaped the page. I found it to be very sweet, and cute.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A puddle's point of view.

[Katrina Clohessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Presents the thoughts and perspective of a puddle. Interesting notion, but I’m not sure it would go over well with kids, the intended audience. 37 pages.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations were interesting, but I just couldn't get into the book. Not recommended.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A puddle on the ground talks about all the things that happen in the course of a day and how he is so not happy being different from the other puddles. Preschool and up