Come On, Rain!

Jul 24, 2013 by speakeasy | Reading, Summer Slide Prevention, Teaching

Sitting poolside this evening, I noticed a group of ominous clouds creeping in from the south. It was clear what was to come. “Out of the pool, guys. Let’s pack it up.” Minutes later, the second warning came. Thunder. By the time we got home, the lightening had arrived and the swollen skies released their insides. It was raining. Raining hard. And with it came a cool breeze that pushed away the stuffiness. The moment it poured, I was reminded of Karen Hesse’s poetic book, Come On, Rain!

Written in 1999, the book is perfectly illustrated by Jon J. Muth. It is a story of a Mamma, her young daughter, Jess, and Jess’ friends Jackie-Joyce, Liz and Rosemary. The author’s descriptive voice draws on memories of summers in the city. Through Jess’ character, Hesse describes a scorching day: “The smell of hot tar and garbage bullies the air…”

The summer heat is a main character in the story until “a breeze blows the thin curtains…then sucks them back against the screen…”. Shortly after the cool breeze, Jess cheers, “‘Come on, rain!’ And just like that, rain comes.”

The girls dance in the rain drops and have such fun that Mamma and the other ladies in the neighborhood come out to join in on the fun. This is the best part of the story because the women leave their indoor activities, take off their shoes and soak in the puddles, along with the girls. The entire story is written in a rhythmic tone and Muth’s watercolors depict the beauty and power of nature.

How do you feel when thunderstorms arrive? Does your family enjoy watching the storms from behind a window or would you rather cuddle up on the sofa and wait for the storm to pass?