Come On, Rain

A lovely picture-book evocation of stifling summer heat, and the blessed relief that a rainstorm can bring, Come On, Rain! is a book that brought me back to my own childhood, when my first impulse, when sensing the approach of rain, was to run outside in the hopes of being "caught" in the deluge. As Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi once wrote, "When bathing in the rain was no longer one of great pleasures of my existence, I knew I had left my childhood behind me." This beautiful book, in which a young girl named Tess, eagerly anticipating the rain, manages to get her three friends - and then their mothers! - out into the downpour, makes me feel that I have not, after all, really left my childhood entirely behind.

Yes, I still show more feel the pull of the rain, and Karen Hesse captures that feeling with her words, just as the marvelously talented Jon J. Muth - better known for his Zen Shorts, and its sequels - does with his gorgeous watercolor artwork! It's a testament to the power of their creation that, although I grew up in an environment far removed from Tess's urban neighborhood, I instantly identified with her story. Just a beautiful book, highly recommended to fans of the artist, and to any reader who has longed for the rain, and its cool caress. show less

“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.

"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

There are three reasons why I enjoyed this book. The first reason why it was so enjoyable was the plot of the story. With each page you anticipate that the rain should be coming but it is not until the climax that the clouds open up and rain finally arrives. Leading up to this event we as the reader are engaged in a hot and sticky feeling while reading due to the wonderful use of imagery. With this added part to the story's plot, it builds on the excitement later in the story. Secondly, I enjoyed the use of point of view in this story. The point of view is clearly stated by the author's use of I and how Tessi seems to dictate her memories of that day so vividly. Lastly, I enjoyed the writing style of the author in how at parts of the show more book you go gliding through the words and in others you are sticky like the humidity depicted. This adds a layer of depth to the reader's perception of the events taking place. In conclusion the message of the story is to always have patience, because in life you are not able to get what you want in a split second. Like all good things in life it takes time. show less

It's a hot day. It's a very hot day, and I imagine it's muggy too. Hot, humid, no rain in three weeks, the plants and the people wilting. When our protagonist sees the clouds coming in she gets her friends and tells them to get their bathing suits. You can *feel* the relief when they (and their color-coded mothers) go dancing in the rain as that heat breaks. You can just about feel the rain on you by looking at the pictures! The text makes the mood - weary and tired when it's hot, happier when the rain falls.

One thing I especially like is how the girl gets her bathing suit on. She had asked her mother, but her mother told her she'd burn in the sun. So she went and fetched a friend and told HER to put her suit on - and then pointed out show more to her mother that if her FRIEND had her suit on, surely SHE could get hers on as well? This is the sort of going-behind-the-grownups-backs that I do NOT encourage or condone - in fact, I pointed it out specifically to my nieces as something that I really don't want them doing - but it's so effective and so typical that I had to laugh! show less

"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...
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I loved this book. The illustrations and writing are beautiful and they compliment each other nicely. I would like to explore some more books by both the illustrator and author. This story hit close to home for me - I remember being so excited for rain and running out in my suit and dancing in the rain with my family. This was such an amazing book - I really enjoyed it.