Singing in the Rain

PreS-Gr 2— Hopgood continues his picture books based on song lyrics that he began with What a Wonderful World . This adaptation of the classic tune starts off with a familiar image—a child in a yellow slicker dancing around a light post in the rain. He continues to introduce his diverse cast of characters clad in bright rainwear with big umbrellas. They dance, splash and sing their way through a dark, rainy cityscape with pops of color (flower, worm, snail, a building, etc.) as yellow musical notes hang in the air. As the verse begins again, the children become airborne Mary Poppins—style and the scene transitions from city to rainforest. Now they dance, splash and sing their way through the rainforest—animals, waterfalls, lush vegetation, etc.—as their clothing subtly changes to reflect their location. The final line in the song sees them returning to the city amidst rain, musical notes, birds, and a bit of both landscapes. The evocative watercolor illustrations contain just the right amount of rainy darkness to heighten Hopgood's perfect and judicious use of color.