There Is a Rainbow

by Theresa Trinder, Grant Snider (Illustrator)

Even when we're far apart, "here" and "there" can still be connected by a rainbow. A hopeful, timely picture book that helps us all see the rainbows that connect us!

On the other side of a window, there is a neighbor.
On the other side of a sadness, there is a hug.
And on the other side of a storm, there is a rainbow.

Sometimes we are separated by distance, sometimes by the way we feel. Even though the world is full of barriers that can make us feel unconnected, we are all just on one end of a rainbow. Connected by all that color and light, there is always something, or someone, waiting for us on the other side.

Poetically told with an uplifting message for some of life's most difficult moments, this book encourages readers to look past their immediate surroundings and find comfort, community, and inner courage—all are closer than we might think.

Inspired by the multitude of rainbows found in the windows of homes around the world following the coronavirus lockdown, this uplifting picture book shares a message of hope and resilience that is truly timeless.

• TIMELY: Sweet, sincere, and uplifting, this book offers comfort to readers young and old. Its graceful approach to navigating both today's difficulties and the inevitable obstacles of the future makes this a staple picture book little ones and their parents will cherish for years and return to time and again.

• HOPEFUL: This book provides a much-needed dose of realistic optimism, encouraging readers to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Painting a believable picture of what is and what might be, it also shows readers all the wonderful things within our reach, even in difficult times. Its underlying message has the potential to change perspectives.

• COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: The book's emphasis on finding a network of support—whether it's among family members a phone call away, the neighbors right across the street, or a wider community accessible through technology—is particularly potent. Imbued with the unshakeable sense that we are never alone, this is one picture book with a message everyone can get behind, and which will, itself, spread hope from home to home, community to community.

• READ ALOUD: As this reassuring picture book artfully reveals what's on the other side of both concrete objects and abstract ideas, it smartly uses the page turn to do so—it will have young readers eagerly turning the page to complete each sentence, to see what's on the other side. It provides the perfect read-aloud experience for story time in the classroom, in the library, and at home.

• THE INSPIRATION: This picture book was inspired by the author's own experiences during the COVID-19 crisis.

Perfect for:

• Children going through a wide variety of difficult experiences, possibly for the first time
• Parents and grandparents looking for a hopeful, comforting picture book
• Caretakers and gift givers looking for profound, beautifully written, optimistic picture books
• Teachers, librarians, and booksellers looking for the perfect uplifting read-aloud option
• Fans of picture books that teach new perspectives

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Emotion, Juvenile, Storytime

52 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2021

Reviews

[Phaea Crede · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book for these trying times, full of hope and rainbows! A must read for any child who needs to look to the future for better times.

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two neighborhood children are shown coping with the changes brought on by COVID-19.

Hmm..something about this just didn't work for me. While the sentiment was nice, there didn't seem to be much of a flow between pages. Too abstract if you try to read it out of context (not mentioning COVID-19)...and I don't know if we are ever really going to discuss this with children (ages 3-5) in the future.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gorgeous pandemic picture book! This one is done in colored pencil making it seems accessible and possible to budding artists. It offers hope, empathy, and encouragement to readers of all ages. It belongs in a text set with INSIDE OUTSIDE. Don't miss this one.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was read by New City Library as a virtual read aloud. Enjoyed the artwork and peaceful poetry, reminding us that there's always something on the other side of where we currently are. I hope to read this in print, soon.

[Sadie-Jane Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 068 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book gave me all the feels, from the words to the gorgeous artwork done by one of my faves @grantsnider - one star just for him

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[Tina Athaide · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for classrooms!

Who doesn't love a rainbow? This beautiful book by Theresa Trinder is filled with gorgeous rainbows and a message that all kids need today. It is reminder of how we are connected and full of hope.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a digital ARC of this book, and the first thing I did once I finished was order a hardcopy for myself to have and keep. It's just plain gorgeous. The art! Those colors! Those rainbows! But best of all is the message. It's one of those picture books that's not just for kids; parents are going to be reaching for this book because *they* need and want to feel the kindness, hope, and optimism for themselves. Though especially perfect for these times, this book will serve later as a reminder of what the pandemic was like, and the message that good things can come from hard times will stay fresh forever.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and heartfelt story about a pandemic world. This was a random pick off the shelf from our library book and I was pleasantly surprised. My son was born during the pandemic so it was a good conversation starter with him to answer questions like “why is a classroom on a computer”? I am a former teacher as well so it was nice to be able to tell him stories about school pre and post pandemic. The illustrations are gorgeous and while the story is simple, it’s meaningful.

[Ms.TPena Peña · Rating 5 out of 5]

The colorful illustrations are captivating. This book is timely, as it includes the experience of virtual learning, wearing masks, social events and issues, and diverse communities. This is definitely a book to share with children to help them see what's happening in their lives are reflected in the story. Exceptional.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the colorful sketch-style illustrations. Another darling Covid-19 book that makes me cry, infusing hope into the quarantine and social-distancing situations. Pair with LeUyen Pham's "Outside, Inside" for a hopeful/tear-filled story reading!

[Moni Ritchie Hadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“On the other side of a window, there is a neighbor.”
If there ever were a more relevant book to have on your shelf right now, it is this one!
Author, Theresa Trinder, packs a punch with language so perfectly simple, the messages shoot straight to the heart. This is a book of hope, a way to cope, understanding, and compassion.
Grant Snider’s loosely drawn illustrations reflect life’s fleeting moments, beautifully scratchy with brilliant reds, greens, and blues that seem to pop right off the page offering cheer. THERE IS A RAINBOW is the new “just because” card. Any child or adult would be lucky to be gifted this book. On the other side of this review, there is my purchase!

[Tracy Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book celebrating the joy that can be found in tough times--specifically, during the pandemic, but this book will last longer than Covid-19. The poetic book leads us through ways to stay connected to our community and loved ones even when we can't be near each other in person--a message that is important for any time that's the case, not just in a pandemic. The illustrations evoke the sense of the many children's drawings that brightened windows and sidewalks during the toughest times of the pandemic.

[superawesomekt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that will probably appeal more to adults and very sensitive older children—especially back in 2020. I read this in late 2021 so already it seemed a bit dated with its implicit allusions to COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures (a zoom call is depicted), but it might be nice for families to read and "remember" and have gratitude for schools being open again, etc. Not that we are "out of it" (or ever will be?)

Note: The illustrations include some Black Lives Matter signs, however there is no explicit political commentary or division / violence depicted. While I think it was a nice intent by the author to capture the zeitgeist (and perhaps to apply the book's theme to racism and a more equal future on the other side of the rainbow?), reading children may need a supportive conversation as there is nothing in the narrative that actually addresses the signs.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like this captured some elements of 2020 wonderfully, the staying apart, the rainbows in the window, the sidewalk chalk art, virtual schooling, and hints at various people's support of BLM. The only thing I don't like about it is that it looks like it's going to come to represent 2021 as well...but perhaps that makes it all the more needed and relevant.

The art is fairly simple but nice. It has a classic feel of it, the style reminds me a bit of the original Corduroy books by Don Freeman and something about it also reminds me of classic Sesame Street as well.

[Viviane Elbee]

This book was written in Spring 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it reminds kids that after the storm, there is a rainbow. The story is set up to show one side and the other side of things - on the other side of the screen, there is school, on the other side of the window, there is a neighbor... Though it is not really a story, the repetition of "on the other side of..." gives this book a nice read-aloud rhythm.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

"On the other side of the street...
...there is help...
On the other side of a river...
...there is a light...
On the other side of a storm...
...there is a rainbow..."

A book that was written during the Covid-19 crisis to remind people that things will (hopefully) be better one day.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This hopeful book, featuring colorful, childlike illustrations, depicts the ways families and friends found new ways to be together during social distancing during the Covid pandemic.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book captures the experience of the Covid pandemic as we are all stuck in a place in between for months. It is a place where school is on the other side of the computer screen, where windows separate us from neighbors. But it is also a bright place, full of praise for the heroes who kept us going, phone calls with grandparents. It is a place of light, of sunsets, of time spent outdoors together. It is a place of loss, sadness and comfort. It is a storm that promises a rainbow tomorrow.

Told in simple poetic phrases, this picture book takes a frank look at the changes the pandemic brought us. While it could have stayed focused on the distance, instead it turns it around and shows the new ways we connected with others, with nature and with the promise of the future. This picture book sets just the right tone of respect for those who were lost, seriousness about the nature of the pandemic, and joy that it may pass and bring us somewhere beautiful.

Snider’s illustrations are done in bright colored pencil. The characters are whimsically drawn, while the urban landscape glows on the page. The book offers rainbows of color long before the literal one arrives at the end of the book.

Timely and quietly full of joy. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Kira Hollars · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written, and even more beautifully illustrated children’s picture book of hope! The colored pencil illustrations give this book a level of familiarity and comfort with an artistic medium most children can recognize and identify with. The wide variety of vivid colors light up each page with a new scene of what life is like during the pandemic. What I appreciate most about these illustrations are how each page (or set of pages) has its’ own drawn-out visual story taking place even if you were to take away the story words. I think this book would have been worthy of winning the Caldecott medal for such creative and well-executed illustrations that tell their own story. My favorite pages of drawings in this book are the spreads with the words “there is a neighbor” which shows a scenic view of apartment complexes with people on the sidewalk and chalk drawings featuring words of hope like: “black lives matter”, “we got this!”, “stay safe!”, “hope”, and “thank you heroes”, and the page saying “there is light.”These sayings mean so much in a time where the world is so uncertain and unfamiliar. The soft vibrancy of the images in this book give some comfort and unity to the reader as we navigate this ‘new normal’ together. Excellent book!!

[Samira · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're anything like me (sensitive to a fault) this tender and hopeful picture book will warm your heart... and probably draw out a few tears as well! In this impossible and tragic time, There is a Rainbow is exactly what little ones (and some not-so-little ones) need to contextualize their ever changing world. And even though this book did come out of the COVID-19 crisis it has staying power far beyond it, with the lasting message that even when you feel isolated, even when you feel sad, there is something waiting on the other side. Theresa Trinder's words are solid and strong in their conviction, each page drawing you deeper in to discover what joys await beyond the grief. Grant Snider's illustrations pair perfectly with the story, using blue in a way I've never seen before to convey both longing (wistful and watery) and elation (vibrating and electric)!

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel-good picture book filled with hope and reminders that we’re in this together. Inspired by the rainbows her children drew during while sheltering in place for the pandemic, the book expresses our universal experiences such as having to stay separated from family or friends, and attending online school.

Illustrations by Grant Snider perfectly fit the spare, lyrical text. A rainbow of colors glows against a white backdrop. Echoing a child’s style of drawing, Snider elevates that sentiment with details capturing this time in our lives.

Beyond the pandemic, this beautiful picture book “encourages readers to look past their immediate surroundings and find comfort, community, and inner courage—which are all closer than we might think.” And if that’s not enough, peek under the book jacket for a fun, different cover art!

[Carol V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children’s book reads like poetry. This story details life in 2020 so passionately. The author gives praise to helpers, workers and heroes, parents and grandparents, schools, friends and play throughout the story. Rainbows and rainbow colors, likewise, flow from page to page. The artist used colored pencils, yet the pictures look 3D-ish. I would like to try 3D glasses with this book! At first, the images left me a little dizzy. But, then the images grew on me!

This is a great little book to read with children and hear their thoughts about life during the Covid-19 pandemic. What a great documentary for life in 2020-early 2021. The story and illustrations are certainly unique to a story that needs to be recorded.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books that I've read that is clearly about this past year, from March to March, and needed as we continue on! Grant Snyder's colored pencil illustrations offer the message there is always something good on the other side. "On the other side of a window/there is a neighbor, a path, a voice" and yes, "a rainbow". I love that he included a Zoom-like grid on a screen while another shows a child alone at the computer. Diverse people walk, greet, help, hug while rainbows hang in windows and positive messages are seen on sidewalks like "Thank You Heroes" and "Black Lives Matter". I'm happy to read this and wish we all had it months ago. It was just out at the end of January! It would be lovely to share and talk about this with a class!

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is a book that came out during Covid times and it was trying to do some healing. It was wanting to connect people again.

This decade really has been a tough one. It's been one thing after another. From my perspective, the 20s have sucked.

The artwork is fun and bright. It's all done in colored pencil and it uses the rainbow as a way to connect everything. They use that symbol of hope through the whole book. The floods would stop, the pandemic would stop. I think we can say we're through the pandemic now, but things are still uncertain. We probably still need this symbol of hope.

I guess, someone who wants to remember those times or interested in history will be interested in this book. I think it's time has passed.

[Charlotte Offsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a Rainbow is not only visually stunning and a beautiful read aloud, but also filled with hope and the reminder that even when we can’t be together, we are still connected, and our rainbow is on its way. It is the perfect book for these complicated times we are living through.

I read this one to my six-year-old, Eliana, and asked her what she thought it was about. She said… “when you’re sad, there is still hope.” This book and her words filled my eyes with tears, what an important reminder – I don’t know about you guys but some days when I am particularly missing my friends and family, that message is easier for me to remember than others! I highly recommend this one!

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was just a beautiful and touching narrative of hope in the midst of trying times. I must-read for children living in these times. There is much to look forward to and hope for as well as celebrate in the here-and-now. I appreciate the narrative and illustrations. A nice inclusive cast appears throughout the pages, and nice nods to our current times: sidewalk chalk saying "Black Futures Matter" and people wearing masks while walking on city streets. I think this is just a nice ray of light. Heartwarming and timely.

**Note: I was given a review copy of this book by Chronicle Kids. Opinions are my own.

[Deidre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kindly provided with an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.

“On the other side of today… there is tomorrow.” There is a Rainbow is a heartwarming book that injects hope into its readers through sparse and meaningful text. Grant Snider’s gentle, colorful illustrations add to the story of remaining hopeful through difficult times. Although this book alludes to the difficulty of current-day issues, it is suitable for any child going through uncomfortable change. This is one of those stories that will stand the test of time—simply gorgeous. An honor to read.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've got littles in your life, I could not recommend this book more highly. (For that matter, it's an encouraging message for adults too.) My children literally gasped and shouted, "Awww!" when they flipped a page and saw an illustration of a child attending virtual school. The timely subject matter paired with the timeless message of finding strength and hope even in adversity will brighten spirits of all ages. After the storm, there is a rainbow...

I can already tell this one is going to be on my kids' reading rotation a LOT in the coming months.

[Jocelyn Rish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of remaining hopeful during tough times. Theresa Trinder was inspired to write this book during the first Covid lockdown. While focusing on the hardships of lockdown for kids, Theresa's affecting spare prose could apply to most challenges. And the way people come together to support each other and offer hope is a necessary reminder that we are all connected. Grant Snider's vibrant, rainbow-infused illustrations are a perfect pairing, since they are done in a style reminiscent of a child's sidewalk chalk drawings.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book because it is super hopeful, that even though there is sorrow, even though we have bad days, “on the other side of today is tomorrow.” I couldn’t help but think of the quote by Montgomery from Anne of Green Gables—“tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it…yet.” This book also played with rainbows and their original meaning and promise that the earth would not be destroyed by a flood again. The illustrations were childlike and completely done with colored pencils, and the poetry was minimal but packed a punch. I could definitely see this as an award book next year.