Soaked!

by Abi Cushman

A Hula-Hooping moose, a badger with a bumblebee umbrella, a rabbit in a cashmere sweater, and a very wet bear star in this unpredictable and laugh-out-loud picture book in which having fun gets the best of a grumpy bear.

It looks like a wet and dreary day for Bear and his trio of friends. How could he possibly have fun when he is soaked? But Badger, Rabbit, and Moose don't seem to mind. In fact, Moose can still hula hoop! And it looks like so much fun. Might Bear like to try?

Here is a story that shows that fun is not dependent on sunshine and blue skies. In fact, it might be more fun to be soaked!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 2020

About the author

Abi Cushman is an award-winning author-illustrator of funny picture books, including Wombats Are Pretty Weird, Animals Go Vroom!, and Soaked!.

When she’s not creating picture books, Abi works as a web/graphic designer. Her educational website Animal Fact Guide was named a “Great Website for Kids” by the American Library Association. She also enjoys running, playing tennis, and eating nachos. (Yes, at the same time.)

For sneak peeks, exclusive giveaways, and wombats, join Abi's email list.

Reviews

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was EXTREMELY cute and just the right amount of odd. I mean, there's a hula-hooping moose. What more needs to be said??

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's raining, and no one is happy. Especially Bear.

"Because the rain ruins
everything.

Ice cream cones.

Sandcastles.

Cashmere sweaters.

All the things that
bears love."

Oh my. So funny. Just Bear's expression will make you laugh. Just the hula-hooping Moose will make you laugh.

[Abby Johnson]

Bear is so super grumpy because it is raining and the rain ruins EVERYTHING. Nothing can cheer him up. With silly details in the illustrations and a hula hooping moose who can't stop won't stop, this is a fun book that will have young readers laughing out loud on rainy days.

[Rajani LaRocca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this picture book about a grumpy bear whose favorite things (ice cream cones, sand castles, cashmere sweaters) are ruined by a very rainy day. Can the bear and other animal friends come up with a way to enjoy themselves, or are they doomed to mope? The text is spare, the art is adorable, and both together are hilarious! Abi Cushman taps into the familiar feeling of everything being awful due to circumstances beyond our control (something we can all relate to right now), while giving us a gentle reminder that we can still decide to find a way to make the best of a bad situation, and even, just maybe, have fun.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sassy, sarcastic bear.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lively, soaking good time with charming, expressive illustrations.

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love a grumpy bear. The bear and the forest animal friends are dealing with quite a lot of rain...will their friendship survive?

[Cathy Ogren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s raining, and Bear, a bit of a grump, finds nothing is fun in the rain. He and his friends retreat to his cave, but Hula-Hooping Moose is taking up too much room playing with his hoop. Back outside in the rain, Bear wants his umbrella, but it’s missing so he grumps on his log. His friends encourage Bear to give the hula-hoop a try. He is surprised how much fun hula-hooping, splashing in rain puddles, and getting soaked with his friends can be. When the rain stops, what do you think happens? You’ll have to read this hilarious book written and illustrated by Abi Cushman. It’s sure to put a smile on your face.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so fun! It has THE BEST quirky, off-beat humor, and is fun for kids and adults alike. Beyond that it also shows kids how they can turn their grumpy times into fun. And the art is so gripping, from light up hula hoops to hilarious hidden details, this book will provide hours of fun for everyone!

[Carol Peszko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splashy Day Fun

A really fun story of interesting characters. The illustrations are just wonderful and help tell the story beautifully. Kids will love a story about a rainy day that starts badly but ends in splashy fun for all. What kid doesn't love puddles....

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable!

[Shaye Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grumpy bear is not happy that it’s raining. It’s dreary and everything is drenched. He notices all the terrible things about the rain and refuses to think there’s any silver lining to the situation. Until… something begins to change. The cute artwork for this book was drawn in pencil and colored digitally.

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

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this sarcastic, grouchy bear! Elementary students will get a kick out of this one.

[Dax · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'll never understand a lack of appreciation and joy towards the rain - this book is adorable, hilarious, and I relate to the bear sooo much.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored this book about a bear who is spending a bit of time wallowing in his own misery. And a hula hooping moose. You’ll have to read to find out what happens.

[Abby Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute illustrations and relatable feelings about rain and friends

[Emma M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grumpy bear is the type of person that I don't particularly enjoy being around. He will grumpily find a few seconds of joy only to find something else to be grumpy about. I may have enjoyed this book more had I not had several grumpy bears in my life. I ended up finding myself irritated, but my kids thought it was funny.

[Isabella Kung · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOAKED! is a laugh-out-loud book, perfect for kids! We follow a mopey, Bear who groans and complains at just about everything because the rain, nothing could cheer him up. With the help of his friends, he eventually found a moment of fun and embraced every drop of the rain until everyone is SOAKED! This book shows us how our perspective can change everything, seeing the positive sides of things and making the most out of every situation can drastically change everything! I especially love the illustrations in this book. While it is in first-person and the main story focuses on the Bear, all of his friends making the most out of whatever Bear has given up on and having a great time. (Like Badger collecting Bear's melted ice cream and drinking it as a milkshake!) All of these details that are never mentioned in the text enriches the story made me laugh. A perfect marriage of illustration and text!

[Qing Zhuang · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Soaked” is perfect for read-alouds and sure to get your kid laughing and pointing out the quirky details. Abi Cushman’s unique and expressive illustrations feature a motley crew of forest animals.You will meet Bear and his friends, a hula hooping moose, the shifty badger and a quiet rabbit in an oversized sweater. Bear, by nature, doesn’t like to try new things and tends to see the negative side of things. However as it happens in life, the friends experience an unexpected downpour and Bear feels that everything is going wrong. You will find out how Bear learns to not only love the rain but to try something new. This is a story about shifting perspectives, being open minded and facing challenges with friends set to a humorous tone that will sure to entertain!

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve all been there. Glum. Gloomy. Rain in our ice cream. But a rainy day can be better with good friends, especially good friends who help pull you out of the doldrums. Sometimes all it takes is a pink plastic hula hoop and suddenly you’re having fun! This funny, charming picture book makes for a great read-aloud, with a main character reminiscent of grouchy Mother Bruce. The illustrations are active and fun and colorful in spite of the rain (I WANT that blue bumblebee umbrella!) Most of all, I love the story’s message – that there’s fun to be had even on dreary days, and a change of perspective can change your attitude.

[Mary Copp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author/Illustrator Abi Cushman delights readers of all ages with her debut picture book SOAKED! Spare text and adorable illustrations combine to make this a funny, sweet and soggy story. Poor Bear. Rain ruins everything Bear loves - from ice cream cones to cashmere sweaters. And his cave is awfully crowded when his friends join him there. Nothing is working out for Bear. Will trying Moose’s hula hoop make him happier? Can Bear be happy on the dreariest of days? SOAKED! is a great read-aloud and very funny in all kinds of weather!

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed at every page of this book! Readers will delight in finding the little outlandish surprises in both the text and illustrations, like moose's hula hoop, bear's cashmere sweater, and bear's friends "borrowing" his stuff. Any grumpy listeners at read-aloud time will undergo the same transformation as bear - from wallowing to whooping with joy! A perfect rainy day (and everyday) book to lift one's spirits and remind us to make the best of what comes our way. I can't imagine a more child-friendly narrator than bear, who feels like everyone's best friend.

[Hope Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear doesn’t like rainy days as they ruin everything. He eventually finds something fun about the rain, but only until an unexpected turn of events makes Bear grumpy again. This is such a delightful and relatable story led by Bear, grumpy yet likeable. Abi Cushman's illustrations capture Bear’s expressions with brilliance and amazing consistency in each spread. The readability and charming illustrations will surely win the hearts of young readers, who will laugh at this fun day out with friends.

[Anna Crowley Redding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! The illustrations are just gorgeous, conveying so much emotion and texture and depth. Masterful. The story will be a great read to kids are having a less than stellar day. It's about changing your mind about your circumstances. But this take away is delivered with humor and surprise. For teachers and educators, the descriptive words would make a wonderful writing mini-lesson! Enjoy reading this charming charming book and prepare to fall in love with a grumpy (but oh so endearing) bear! #bookaday #classroombookaday #readaloud

[Larissa Marantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soaked is a delightfully fun read aloud book for young readers. When grumpy bear and his friends are caught in the rain, there's nothing much to do but complain, until something unexpected happens which turns everything round and round. The illustrations capture the changing moods of the characters in such an expressive way. Abi Cushman's debut picture book is the perfect book for reading on a rainy afternoon, or a sunny afternoon, for that matter.

[Elisa Boxer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book to read with your kids these days, as it's all about making the best of a bad situation! The whole family will laugh out loud as grumpy bear mopes around, complaining about the rain. Boo-hoo, everything important to him is getting soaked. But wait... Is he actually having fun despite himself? Debut creator Abi Cushman's illustrations are adorable, her characters are memorable, and the theme is universal. This is one you'll read time and time again!

[Joana Pastro · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOAKED! by Abi Cushman is adorable and absolutely hilarious! It’s raining and Bear isn’t happy. At. All. All of his favorite things are ruined. Is there a way to make a rainy day fun for this grumpy bear? Read and find out! This book is relatable to anyone who’s ever had a bad day (everyone, right?). It’s pure laugh-out-loud fun during a read aloud and while looking closely at Cushman’s amazing art. A great addition to any library!

[Kelly Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soaked is drenched in adorable illustrations and lovable characters. Cranky bear cries “blah” at everything in sight while a hula hooping Moose offers up giggling fun. You will be convinced that the pages are actually wet and that rain will drip right out of the book in this wonderful story of finding the fun in even the dreariest of days. It’s all about attitude and hula hoops of course!

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sort of book that's hard for me to rate, because it did an excellent job of capturing the mood of the character. But that mood is pessimistic boredom. The art is good, there's a dry sense of humor to it, but the overall effect is that it was perfectly crafted to provide a blah sensation, which doesn't leave me with a high star rating feeling.