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It's Raining!
Dark clouds fill the sky and soon its raining! In this accessible and clear introduction, the water cycle, cloud formations, and various rain events are all part of a solid overview of rain and how it affects the world around us. Gibbonss bright watercolors and simple, descriptive text are perfect for explaining weather and climate to young readers.
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First published January 1, 2014
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About the author
Gail Gibbons
225 books162 followersFrom gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.
Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.
Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 5, 2016
My library shelves this with the picture books, but personally I'd catalog it in with the juvenile non-fiction instead. It's heavy on informational text for a traditional picture book.
February 16, 2017
This is a very educational book for young children about what happens when it rains. Its describes condensation and evaporation. It talks about the many different kinds of clouds and all the good that water is for many living things around the world. The illustrations are very colorful and detailed. There is much correspondence to the text that may make the book seem overwhelming to read. (non-fiction picture book)
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April 29, 2020Nonfiction: It’s Raining!
Fiction: I Am the Rain
Both of the books talk about rain and the water cycle. Compare the fiction book I Am the Rain, the nonfiction book It’s Raining! provides more well-organized information about the different types of clouds and rains. The book I Am the Rain could be used to introduce the concept of the water cycle to students. And after reading the book, students may wonder why rain can become clouds, waterfalls, fog, and other forms. The book It’s Raining! will satisfying students’ curiosity as it’s an educational book that contains lots of clear and detailed information about rain, clouds, and the water cycle.
Possible content area crossover: Science (The Water Cycle)
Interactive strategy: Webbing
• Ask: What comes to your mind when you hear of “the water cycle”?
• Create a class list with “the water cycle” as the central word in the web
• Read I Am the Rain
• Ask students to discuss and think of all the related words of “the water cycle” from the text they could remember.
• Add keywords to the list
• Read It’s Raining!
• Ask students: What other keywords and information could be derived from the text?
• Create a web of the water cycle, organizing ideas into the four main stages of the water cycle (Collection-Evaporation-Condensation-Precipitation).
References:
Camp, D. (2000). It takes two: Teaching with twin texts of fact and fiction. The Reading Teacher, 53(5), 400-408.
Gibbons, G. (2015). It's raining! New York, NY: Holiday House.
Paterson, J. (2018). I am the rain. Nevada, CA: Dawn Publications.
Fiction: I Am the Rain
Both of the books talk about rain and the water cycle. Compare the fiction book I Am the Rain, the nonfiction book It’s Raining! provides more well-organized information about the different types of clouds and rains. The book I Am the Rain could be used to introduce the concept of the water cycle to students. And after reading the book, students may wonder why rain can become clouds, waterfalls, fog, and other forms. The book It’s Raining! will satisfying students’ curiosity as it’s an educational book that contains lots of clear and detailed information about rain, clouds, and the water cycle.
Possible content area crossover: Science (The Water Cycle)
Interactive strategy: Webbing
• Ask: What comes to your mind when you hear of “the water cycle”?
• Create a class list with “the water cycle” as the central word in the web
• Read I Am the Rain
• Ask students to discuss and think of all the related words of “the water cycle” from the text they could remember.
• Add keywords to the list
• Read It’s Raining!
• Ask students: What other keywords and information could be derived from the text?
• Create a web of the water cycle, organizing ideas into the four main stages of the water cycle (Collection-Evaporation-Condensation-Precipitation).
References:
Camp, D. (2000). It takes two: Teaching with twin texts of fact and fiction. The Reading Teacher, 53(5), 400-408.
Gibbons, G. (2015). It's raining! New York, NY: Holiday House.
Paterson, J. (2018). I am the rain. Nevada, CA: Dawn Publications.
February 1, 2018
It's Raining is a nonfiction book written by Gail Gibbons. It has a copyright date of 2014. This book is written for k-3rd graders. It is a book about all kinds of facts about water and Rain. It will talk about the water cycle, why water is beneficial, why it is important for life on earth, and weather involving rain and the different clouds that are formed. It is a fun and informative book for elementary kids.
For a twin text, that is appropriate for this age level to read (k-3rd) I selected the book Thunderstorms. Thunderstorms is a book written by Arthur Geisert. It is a unique book as it is mostly pictures, but has a timeline of a storm that is taking place. The book depicts a thunderstorm and the time frame of it building up, the mean time while the storm is at it's worst, and how it ends. It has wonderful illustrations of the storm and rain clouds forming that the child would have just learned in It's Raining.
For a twin text, that is appropriate for this age level to read (k-3rd) I selected the book Thunderstorms. Thunderstorms is a book written by Arthur Geisert. It is a unique book as it is mostly pictures, but has a timeline of a storm that is taking place. The book depicts a thunderstorm and the time frame of it building up, the mean time while the storm is at it's worst, and how it ends. It has wonderful illustrations of the storm and rain clouds forming that the child would have just learned in It's Raining.
November 13, 2018
Genre: Informational
Grade level: 4-7
Plot: It's Raining begins with what life looks like when rain starts to fall. It continues to talk about the water cycle and the types of clouds there could be. This is followed by the type of rain that falls and the storms that may come from it. The text then ends with how after rain you may find a rainbow in the sky.
I chose this book as one of my favorites because it has so much information of the water cycle, different clouds, and even tips on how to stay safe when there is rain or thunder storms. The pictures also create a fun and colorful way of looking at the water cycle and anything that has to do with rain or clouds. This book is perfect to start a science unit on the water cycle and clouds.
Grade level: 4-7
Plot: It's Raining begins with what life looks like when rain starts to fall. It continues to talk about the water cycle and the types of clouds there could be. This is followed by the type of rain that falls and the storms that may come from it. The text then ends with how after rain you may find a rainbow in the sky.
I chose this book as one of my favorites because it has so much information of the water cycle, different clouds, and even tips on how to stay safe when there is rain or thunder storms. The pictures also create a fun and colorful way of looking at the water cycle and anything that has to do with rain or clouds. This book is perfect to start a science unit on the water cycle and clouds.
September 21, 2020
"It’s Raining!" Is an informative book about how rain works. Telling us the importance of rain to the environment and living beings. The type of rains that can occurs; such as drizzles, showers, etc. It even states the different types of clouds that could form because of the rain. This book does a great job in explaining about rain and is very interesting facts about the rain. Each page is filled with beautifully drawn illustrations, full of colors and people.
September 22, 2021
This book begins as if it might tell the story of a group of kids on a rainy day, but it quickly becomes clear that this is an informative non-fiction text that explains everything from flash flood warnings to cumulonimbus rain clouds to the particles of water vapor that are impacted by lightning. This would be a great book for an elementary school reader who is interested in a scientific understanding of weather.
October 25, 2024
Copyrighted 2014 this title focuses on rain and begins with several illustrations on the water cycle and moves onto the very smallest drops of rain and their progression into large drops that fall from clouds as rain. Title goes on to give other definitions of various types of clouds and weather terms related to emergencies in rain storm. Interesting on the one page of appended information it state that one rain drop is composed of a million water droplets.
November 5, 2018
32 pages. Great book with lots of good, well-organized information on the concept of rain. One spread shows the water cycle. There are lots of great illustrations throughout. There is also additional information on the last page. Great to use with student research on weather or a teaching unit. Highly recommended for Grades 1-5.
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June 24, 2019It’s Raining, is a nonfiction text about rain written for children. This book inspires scientific questions and discoveries for your minds who want to learn about rain, where it comes from, different types of clouds, the water cycle and so much more!
October 26, 2019
This would be a good book to introduce the topic of weather or to give a quick run through of certain concepts. It also contains a lot of vocabulary related to weather, so students can look through it, find a word and see a picture associated with it.
February 17, 2021
Presents information about the water cycle, types of clouds, and types of storms. I felt like this informational book would have been better served by using photos rather than illustrations. The nuances between different types of clouds was hard to discern from watercolors.
May 9, 2017
Lots of great facts, clear pictures and accurate vocabulary. Love Gail Gibbons.
September 20, 2018
Gail Gibbons books are great for a quick understanding of science topics. We learned about the water cycle, clouds, an different names for storms.
October 9, 2018
A good book about rain and where it comes from!
March 9, 2022
Gail Gibbons's nonfiction picture books are perfect for little readers ready to learn!
Read this for our 1st grade Science unit on Rain!
Read this for our 1st grade Science unit on Rain!
March 17, 2017
This book works great with my first grade weather unit. It gives a lot of information that most other books skim over like types of clouds and how heavy the rain is. It's a great non fiction informational text.
February 3, 2017
Nonfiction/Twin Text Entry #1
The nonfiction book It’s Raining, is an informational book that teaches children about whether specifically rain, the different kinds of rain, how rain affects us, and how to prepare for a storm. I paired this book with the fantasy fiction book One Rainy Day written by M. Christina Butler. One Rainy Day is about a Little Hedgehog who wakes up to the sound of rain and is so excited to use his new umbrella and wear his new raincoat, boots, and hat. Little Hedgehog goes on an adventure to rescue his friends using his gear and what he knows about rainstorms.
I paired these two books together because they go hand in hand. They are both about rain and what happens during a storm. It’s Raining shows how whether and rain affects everyone and teaches about the facts of a rainstorm while One Rainy Day uses that information and tells a story about a Little Hedgehog who was in a rainstorm.
This book pairing would be suited for primary students from grades Kindergarten to third grade. Both of the books have simple vocabulary, have pictures, and are easy to understand. These two texts will increase the students understanding about rain and how rain affects us as well as allow them to make personal connections to the text.
The nonfiction book It’s Raining, is an informational book that teaches children about whether specifically rain, the different kinds of rain, how rain affects us, and how to prepare for a storm. I paired this book with the fantasy fiction book One Rainy Day written by M. Christina Butler. One Rainy Day is about a Little Hedgehog who wakes up to the sound of rain and is so excited to use his new umbrella and wear his new raincoat, boots, and hat. Little Hedgehog goes on an adventure to rescue his friends using his gear and what he knows about rainstorms.
I paired these two books together because they go hand in hand. They are both about rain and what happens during a storm. It’s Raining shows how whether and rain affects everyone and teaches about the facts of a rainstorm while One Rainy Day uses that information and tells a story about a Little Hedgehog who was in a rainstorm.
This book pairing would be suited for primary students from grades Kindergarten to third grade. Both of the books have simple vocabulary, have pictures, and are easy to understand. These two texts will increase the students understanding about rain and how rain affects us as well as allow them to make personal connections to the text.
February 22, 2015
If you teach weather or have a budding meteorologist in your home this book is a must have! It is appropriate for elementary and middle school students. The text is easy to read and the captions are busting with facts and additional information. This book is my mentor text for our weather unit. It’s Raining!
• covers the water cycle, cloud types, rainfall amounts, types of rain, weather tools, types of power from nature, acid rain and weather safety.
• is packed with weather vocabulary that is explained in easy to understand terminology.
• uses multiple text features…headings, diagrams, captions, and a map.
• understanding how to read a map/chart and a cycle diagram.
Although this is easily a content based mentor text, it can also be a reading and writing mentor text.
• Reading pages of informational text in any order.
• Using a “teacher” voice when reading informational text.
• How to use text features when writing an All About Book.
• Using illustrations to teach the reader and writer.
I am so excited to have a content based book that can be a true mentor text…being used over and over. 5 stars!!
• covers the water cycle, cloud types, rainfall amounts, types of rain, weather tools, types of power from nature, acid rain and weather safety.
• is packed with weather vocabulary that is explained in easy to understand terminology.
• uses multiple text features…headings, diagrams, captions, and a map.
• understanding how to read a map/chart and a cycle diagram.
Although this is easily a content based mentor text, it can also be a reading and writing mentor text.
• Reading pages of informational text in any order.
• Using a “teacher” voice when reading informational text.
• How to use text features when writing an All About Book.
• Using illustrations to teach the reader and writer.
I am so excited to have a content based book that can be a true mentor text…being used over and over. 5 stars!!
November 8, 2016
Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-School - 2nd Grade (Ages 4 - 8)
"It's Raining!" tell the journey of water from river to air to sky to river again. Learn about the different types of clouds and the different ways that rain looks throughout the world while learning how to be safe while it is all happening around you.
What an informational book! There's lot of maps, definitions, diagrams, etc. to help introduce the idea of an informational text to students while still being in drawing - form, which they are used to seeing more often than photos. Honestly, I feel like I could use this book as an adult to learn about rain. This would be a GREAT book to use for an entire curriculum lesson on weather, and could even be used for the entire year if you wanted to.
Classroom Uses:
1) Emergency Safety lesson
2) Teaching what different types of clouds look like
3) Teaching the different elements of an informational text (definition, glossary, etc.)
"It's Raining!" tell the journey of water from river to air to sky to river again. Learn about the different types of clouds and the different ways that rain looks throughout the world while learning how to be safe while it is all happening around you.
What an informational book! There's lot of maps, definitions, diagrams, etc. to help introduce the idea of an informational text to students while still being in drawing - form, which they are used to seeing more often than photos. Honestly, I feel like I could use this book as an adult to learn about rain. This would be a GREAT book to use for an entire curriculum lesson on weather, and could even be used for the entire year if you wanted to.
Classroom Uses:
1) Emergency Safety lesson
2) Teaching what different types of clouds look like
3) Teaching the different elements of an informational text (definition, glossary, etc.)
April 9, 2014
It’s Raining
This is a nonfiction book about the rain cycle. It introduces the types of clouds and storms that can occur with rain. It informs one how to dress if they go out in the rain.
Spring’s Sprung
This is a book about 3 sisters, March, April, and May. Mother Nature wakes up the sisters and tells them it is time to start the day. They compete for their mothers love in the end Mother Nature puts their minds at ease and tell them to prepare to wake summer.
Pairing – I would pair these by reading the “It’s Rain” book first. This would create background knowledge about rain, which occurs often in the spring. The story of spring is a cute way to talk about the different months of spring and how they come along in the year. With the pairing the students would learn about the rain cycle that occurs in spring.
This is a nonfiction book about the rain cycle. It introduces the types of clouds and storms that can occur with rain. It informs one how to dress if they go out in the rain.
Spring’s Sprung
This is a book about 3 sisters, March, April, and May. Mother Nature wakes up the sisters and tells them it is time to start the day. They compete for their mothers love in the end Mother Nature puts their minds at ease and tell them to prepare to wake summer.
Pairing – I would pair these by reading the “It’s Rain” book first. This would create background knowledge about rain, which occurs often in the spring. The story of spring is a cute way to talk about the different months of spring and how they come along in the year. With the pairing the students would learn about the rain cycle that occurs in spring.
Read
March 20, 20151)Twin Text: Rain School by James Rumford (2010)
2)I chose Rain School as my twin text because it really grabbed me. The difference in climate and culture to what we have. How different “learning” can look. I would find other texts that show the effects of rain on other cultures and in other climates to use with this unit.
3)It’s Raining is descriptive, but also very heavy cause and effect and chronological sequence.
4)I really like to integrate across curriculum areas with literature. Like I said, I would have other texts to show the effects of rain in other climates and cultures. I would start out with It’s Raining and do a webbing activity with what we learn about rain. Then we would read Rain School and the other cultural texts. We would end with a compare and contrast of the different cultures and climates and rain’s effects on both.
2)I chose Rain School as my twin text because it really grabbed me. The difference in climate and culture to what we have. How different “learning” can look. I would find other texts that show the effects of rain on other cultures and in other climates to use with this unit.
3)It’s Raining is descriptive, but also very heavy cause and effect and chronological sequence.
4)I really like to integrate across curriculum areas with literature. Like I said, I would have other texts to show the effects of rain in other climates and cultures. I would start out with It’s Raining and do a webbing activity with what we learn about rain. Then we would read Rain School and the other cultural texts. We would end with a compare and contrast of the different cultures and climates and rain’s effects on both.
May 2, 2015
The book "It's Raining" by Gail Gibbons is a Non-Fiction book intended for children ages 4-8.
This book is about what causes rain, different types of rain. The book is well illustrated with lot's of color. It explains what happens if there is to much rain or not enough rain and what would happen if so. It explains everything from the atmosphere to the ground surrounding rain. I gave this book 4 stars because it was filled with a lot of interesting information. I think children would find this book appealing because it's illustrations and because it has information on something they see happening, but never completely understood. I can use this book for a science lesson or if a storm was going on it would better explain what is happening to make them less scared.
This book is about what causes rain, different types of rain. The book is well illustrated with lot's of color. It explains what happens if there is to much rain or not enough rain and what would happen if so. It explains everything from the atmosphere to the ground surrounding rain. I gave this book 4 stars because it was filled with a lot of interesting information. I think children would find this book appealing because it's illustrations and because it has information on something they see happening, but never completely understood. I can use this book for a science lesson or if a storm was going on it would better explain what is happening to make them less scared.
March 1, 2014
You can't go wrong with a Gail Gibbons nonfiction book. She knows just how to present information so that young readers will learn and be entertained at the same time, and this is no exception. In this brightly-illustrated book about the water cycle young readers learn about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, but also much more. Different types of clouds are highlighted. Maps showing rainfall around the world spread across two pages. Readers learn about different types of rain, and what can happen when too much falls at once. Safety tips are included. This is a solid, highly readable nonfiction book that school libraries and teachers will welcome.
September 9, 2014
Gibbons, G. (2014). It’s raining. Holiday House.
Picture Book Soak
Public Library
Rain is something that we encounter daily, but do we all know where it comes from? Dive into this story and learn about rain, clouds, storms, and the water cycle. In addition to this, the story also includes some good information. The pictures in this story are cute, and help the reader to understand the way weather can really look. This book would be perfect for a science lesson discussing each of these factors. Students can learn some important information in a very cute way! This book would be perfect for any grade k-5th. I really loved this nonfiction picture book!
Picture Book Soak
Public Library
Rain is something that we encounter daily, but do we all know where it comes from? Dive into this story and learn about rain, clouds, storms, and the water cycle. In addition to this, the story also includes some good information. The pictures in this story are cute, and help the reader to understand the way weather can really look. This book would be perfect for a science lesson discussing each of these factors. Students can learn some important information in a very cute way! This book would be perfect for any grade k-5th. I really loved this nonfiction picture book!
February 26, 2014
Covers the water cycle, different kinds of clouds, different types of storms, and some helpful how-tos. I like the maps that show annual rainfall amounts around the world and the neat little facts worked into each spread.
The youngest readers will pick up a lot of weather related vocabulary while the middle grade readers will learn some valuable safety measures while they learn about how the water cycle works and how each of its components contribute to the system.
Overall, a solid nonfiction selection for grades PreK-3.
The youngest readers will pick up a lot of weather related vocabulary while the middle grade readers will learn some valuable safety measures while they learn about how the water cycle works and how each of its components contribute to the system.
Overall, a solid nonfiction selection for grades PreK-3.
May 18, 2014
I like all of Gail Gibbons's books. They are bright, lively, informative, and entertaining. There are lots of nonfiction text features that accompany test to show the water cycle, types of rain clouds, where it rains in North America and around the world, and various forms of rain and storms. There is even a list of safety tips to keep you safe during thunderstorms and floods. This would be great in a classroom or library for young children.
September 7, 2014
How did it go from types of rain to a commentary on "new forms of power"?
Some parts are too simplistic: labeling a 'hat' to wear in the rain, yet other parts are complicated: "particles of water vapor in the air around it expand."
Seems out of order, why not describe the types of rain with the types of clouds?
I've never covered my window during a thunderstorm for fear of flying glass, and I live on a lake that has not flooded in over 100 years while area streams and rivers have flooded.
Some parts are too simplistic: labeling a 'hat' to wear in the rain, yet other parts are complicated: "particles of water vapor in the air around it expand."
Seems out of order, why not describe the types of rain with the types of clouds?
I've never covered my window during a thunderstorm for fear of flying glass, and I live on a lake that has not flooded in over 100 years while area streams and rivers have flooded.
February 16, 2016
Gail Gibbons wrote and illustrated this book. She is a prolific children's book author & illustrator, and like her other books, this is a joyful look at what rain is, how rain happens, and rain's effects. A must-have for any elementary school library and children's section of the public library.
Good for preschool to grade 3 or even 4. There are some great illustrations, diagrams, and spot-on science vocabulary.
Good for preschool to grade 3 or even 4. There are some great illustrations, diagrams, and spot-on science vocabulary.
March 10, 2014
Acclaimed author Gail Gibbons demystifies rain, using simple text and brightly colored illustrations to explain the water cycle, storms, floods, and the roles that different kinds of clouds play in creating weather. An excellent choice for the primary grades. Fits CCSS (per publisher's website).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews