Raining

K-Gr 2–Where do animals shelter during a thunder storm? Children can explore animal homes and sounds as the animals attempt to protect themselves from the rain. The book uses minimal text, which places most of the emphasis on the illustrations. These are whimsical and accessible, with a bold color palette. Throughout the book, there are elements that will surely encourage a smile from readers, such as the mini-umbrella held by the pig and the frog atop the puppy’s head. The book serves a general picture book audience, not one invested in actual information, because there are no categories nor continuity: the animals range from farm animals (sheep, chicken, horse), to household pets (dog, cat), to crickets and frogs. In addition, some animal babies are named properly (such as a calf for a cow and a foal for a horse) while others are not (kitty, little mouse, little bird). The most beneficial element of the book is the introduction of animal noises for readers.