Rainy Morning

by Daniel Pinkwater, Jill Pinkwater (Illustrator)

On a rainy morning, Mr. and Mrs. Submarine invite a cat, dog, coyote, wildebeest, Ludwig van Beethoven, the United States Marine Band, and others into their home to share their breakfast of tea and corn muffins.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

Daniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.

Reviews

[A.E. Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a refreshing book for those tired of reading the same “then the cat, then the dog, then the bird” picture books. Absurdist humour that will also entertain the adult reader, and I love that Beethoven actually speaks German, which of course he would. Plus it’s accurate German – very educational.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

One rainy morning Mr. and Mrs. Submarine find themselves hosting an ever-growing assortment of wet creatures, from a shy coyote to the United States Marine Band. "I'm glad we bought four hundred and fifty pounds of muffin mix," Mrs Submarine said, and well might she be, with a cat, a dog, a horse, some crows, some chickens, a wildebeest, the aforementioned coyote and Marine band, a small European circus, and Mr. Ludwig von Beethoven to feed!

As mentioned in my review of The Muffin Fiend , the muffin is a recurring theme in the Pinkwaters' work, and I was happy to see that Rainy Morning was no exception. But although I enjoyed this tale of an impromptu rainy morning gathering, somehow I didn't find it quite as hilarious as some of this author/illustrator team's other work. There were certainly moments that won a smile, but none that provoked the helpless giggling I have come to expect. That's the worst of being picture-book geniuses, I expect: solidly "good" books just seem to be a disappointment! Still, I'm glad to have read this, and thank my friend Lisa for recommending it - a good Pinkwater is nothing to sneeze at.

[Phil J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this inspired by the underappreciated classic But No Elephants?

Pinkwater checklist:

✔ muffins

✔ bears

✔ classical music

✔ absurd humor

✔ sled dogs

✔ Jill's vibrant and lovable illustrations


If you are in the Pinkwater cult, then seek it out!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I just love the Pinkwaters. I found this at the library today: my neighborhood library reopened Saturday after being closed for a long time for renovation and I dropped by today to see the library and I went to the shelves to see if there were any Pinkwater books I hadn’t read and I found this one.

The only reason it didn’t get 5 stars from me is my laughing and smiling turned into mild boredom the last few pages. The story is very funny (and the couple looks very suspiciously like Daniel and Jill Pinkwater.) The story is one that builds and builds and builds and it really worked for me until the last 2 or 3 additions/pages.

I love how the Pinkwaters dedicated the book to one another and how their author photos are Pinkwater drawings.

I loved the colorful pictures and the humor.

And for you Pinkwater fans: Yes, there are muffins featured in this book. Corn muffins.

Edit: It's just too cute: 5 stars!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

No polar bears, no precocious youth, no aliens... but they're not necessary when there's so much else here that's signature Pinkwater. I say 'yay' whenever I find a new-to-me title by them....

[Maureen Milton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Daniel Pinkwater and, since the Juniors are studying weather, I decided to read it along with Uma Krishnamswami's "Monsoon," and the Barrett's "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," and Aardema's "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain." I save Pinkwater for last because it is ridiculous and hilarious and I love to see the kids' expressions when Mr Submarine spots the United States Marine Band out in the rain. This is a silly book (like most of Pinkwater's) with rich illustrations and a warm heart--highly recommended.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read a Daniel and Jill Pinkwater book with my son! Lizard Music and Borgel and Buffalo Brenda were three of my favorite books when I was younger, and I never knew they did picture books as well! YESSSSSSSS! A lovely, weird little story with some great unexpected twists and turns -- although not unexpected if you've ever read their other books. It should really be no surprise when Beethoven seeks shelter from the rain about halfway through and they let him in because he's their favorite composer. And after all, who doesn't love a corn muffin?

[Salsabrarian]

Mr. and Mrs. Submarine are enjoying breakfast on a rainy morning when Mrs. Submarine decides to let the cat in out of the rain. Mr. Submarine next lets the dog in to get dry. Then they notice the horse is soaked, so in he comes, too. Eventually the feel they must also accommodate all the other people and animals they happen to spot out in the rain: crows, the car, Ludwig Van Beethoven, the U.S. Marine Band. The story becomes more and more ludicrous but the Submarines take it all in stride as if it were perfectly normal.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a rainy morning, Mr. and Mrs. Submarine invite a cat, dog, coyote, wildebeest, Ludwig van Beethoven, the United States Marine Band, and others into their home to share their breakfast of tea and corn muffins.

[Chris Go · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hysterical. It truly is a tale of why people need to stop shopping at Costco. You will never believe who passes by on this otherwise uneventful rainy morning. There is also some German in it.

[Briana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book SUCKS. That is all.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE Daniel Pinkwater!!! Such a funny book!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one just seemed to be missing the odd/quirky/funny Pinkwater magic...still better than most everything else out there but something was off

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical and fun writing. Bright energetic illustrations.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

weird. But funny.