It's Raining, It's Pouring

PreS-Gr 2–This cozy picture book illustrates the classic song. The appropriately watery, dreamy spreads flesh out the lyrics, creating a variety of side stories for readers to enjoy. When the rain starts, Grandpa, the “old man,” bumps his head on a hanging flower pot and is put to bed. Meanwhile, Grandma bakes an apple pie and kids peek out from every corner of the delightful house in an indoor game of hide-and-seek. Colorful watercolors provide appealing details and perspectives, from Grandpa in bed to the hide-and-seek game and then, following the song’s lyrics, to a nursery rhyme (“Hey diddle-diddle”) somewhere between fantasy and reality with grandpa and one of the children. The CD features this song and two others, and the illustrations work beautifully with the haunting melody. Both the book and the recording omit the song’s original verse: “Lady Bug, Lady Bug, fly away home./Your house is on fire, and your children, they will burn, They will burn.” A performers’ note is included.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA