Downpour

by Emily Martin, Mara Shaughnessy (Illustrator)

Downpour is the enchanting story of a rainy day turned magical.

A rainy day is usually the time to clomp around in rubber boots and discover worms and puddles and other such rainy day things. But this is no ordinary rainy day. Embark on a journey of discovery as the rain begins to wash away the color from the bright red poppies in a field. Follow the color red on its journey, page after page, as it infuses myriad quirky and everyday objects with its bright cheerful hue: from the beaks of curious birds to the big wheel at the faraway fair.

In a fresh, poetic style, with bright splashes of color on each page, this high contrast book will allow young readers to learn about color and build their vocabulary while stimulating their senses.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Art, Animals, Fantasy

19 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2013

About the author

Emily Martin was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. She received her BA and MFA from Columbia University. Splitting her time between writing, translating, and teaching, she lives outside of Austin, TX, with her husband, her daughter, and their numerous pets.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not formatted very well for the kindle. But this is lovely. Nicely illustrated.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this is a beautiful book all done in reds and grays. The illustrations are well done, but I have to admit the story was a little weird. Maybe I just didn't get it. It is all about how the rain washes the red off the poppies and other things turn red. Huh?

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations, but the book itself I didn't get.

[Jennifer]

Stunning illustrations... strange story.

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations are pretty but I just didn't get/ wasn't enchanted by the story. Sort of random and made no sense to me.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning illustrations done in black and red, with the appearances of mixed media, but the poetry of the story left something to be desired.

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very artistic book. Lyrical without being overly rhythmic. Simple yet magical illustrations take a simple rain and makes it into another world.

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hedgehog and illustrations are adorable. The story is just ok to me.

[Romelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving story about how rain can brighten a day. When the downpour washes away the red from the poppies, author Emily Martin takes us on a journey of awareness- noticing life on a rainy day. Mara Shaughnessy did a wonderful job of interpreting the poem.

Not a typical picture book for children. The art is done in black and grays, with splashes of red. The illustrations are whimsical. I didn't quite get the significance of the ending other than the obvious. Not sure if children would enjoy this. Nevertheless, poetic and artistic, deserving of a category of its own.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful little bookin both language and visual images. it could be used simply with very young to explore the concept of "red", but form the first images of poppies bleeding their redness into the ground in a downpour I couldn't shake the connection to the poppies of Flanders Field. Must be my age and awareness of the history of WWII.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful, but the story didn't really capture me in the same way.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations splashed with the color red, but not much of a story here. Kids might enjoy finding all of the examples of red in their environment.

[Madame Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Those poor poppies.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explore the color red in the beautiful book Downpour by Emily Martin and Mara Shaughnessy. Watch the color drip off the poppies and onto the grass, the road the fence and the animals all around. Take time to talk about what the little hedgehog is doing as it leads the reader through the pages of this imaginative book. For ages 3 - 8.

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is no ordinary rainy day for Hedgehog. In its poetic style Downpour allows the reader to follow the color red through a journey. Hedgehog’s journey will make the reader see ordinary things in a new light from beaks of birds to the beating heart of bee to the big wheel at a fair. Downpour is great to read-aloud and for one on one reading. This story is highly recommended!

Reviewed by Emily MacNiff, Youth Services Librarian, Vernon Area Public Library

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it's lovely to look at. The illustrations are charming and evocative. The text is more a free form poem than a story, with the ultimate theme probably going a bit over the heads of actual children. But they will likely love the cute little hedgehog.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, artistic and imaginative Picture Book. In a world that looks like ours, the world acts quite differently from what we expect. Just go with it, and you'll be carried away in this enchanting story.
From Sky Pony Press, 2013