The story centers around Tessie, a young girl eagerly anticipating the arrival of rain on a scorching hot day. I believe this book would be an excellent fit for students in grades K-3 and could be integrated with science content. The story also touches on the movement of clouds and the sky before, during, and after rainfall, which could provide an opportunity to explore rain clouds and different types of clouds. In class, this book could serve as a springboard for discussing the water cycle and conducting related experiments. ( )

"Come on, rain!" Tess pleads to the sky as listless vines and parched plants droop in the endless heat. Up and down the block, cats pant while heat wavers off tar patches in the broiling alleyway. More than anything, Tess hopes for rain. And when it comes, she and her friends are ready for a surprising joyous celebration....

This story is all about a little girl named Tessie waiting for the rain to come on a hot day. It is aimed at lower grades and I think could be connected to science content. You could ask the questions "why does Tessie give her mom a glass with ice to hold against her face?" and lead to "why is ice cold" and explore why things freeze and melt. You could also talk about why Tessie is wanting it to rain- because it will feel cooler- and why that is. Or to questions like why and how it rains that can lead to exploring the water cycle. It also discusses the movement of clouds/sky before, during, the rain which could connect to rain clouds and then different types of clouds. I really like that discussing the why behind what the character wanted and did could lead into scientific discussions and experimentation from this narrative. ( )

“Come on, Rain!” by Karen Hesse, Illustrated by Jon J. Muth
I enjoyed this story. I can almost smell the wet city bricks after the rain has passed. The art style is soft and complements the imagery, still leaving room for imagination. Through Hesse’s descriptions, one can clearly recall their own hot day, the ones that leave the pavement boiling and the sweat running down your back. This story made me smile. I appreciated the diversity but also the celebration of mothers and daughters and friendship. The characters are having so much fun, it makes you wish to join in as much as she wished for rain. ( )

I felt very indifferent about this book. Overalll, it was an engaging and 'cute' story but the message within it was a bit unclear. A little girl is hoping for rain in an endless, hot, drought. Finally, a storm rolls through and she gets really excited. As she says in the book, "A creeper of hope circles round my bones. 'Come, on rain!' I whisper." The little girl joins her best friends, in their bathing suits and dance in the rain. I really did like how descriptive the story was to help paint the picture. For example, the author describes the weather by saying, "And that's when I see it coming, clouds rolling in, gray clouds, bunched and bulging under a purple sky." I would recommend this as a read aloud without purpose as it's difficult to break down and build a lesson off of.