50. Downpour

 

50. Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! Yuko Ohnari. Translated by Emily Balistrieri. Illustrated by Koshiro Hata. 2025 (2018). 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 5 stars]

First sentence: It's sooo hot! The ground's burning hot! Hot, hot! Huh? Clouds. Dark clouds. They're coming this way! Plip! Plip! Plip! It's raining. Plip! plip! plip! The drops are big! It smells like the sky. It smells like the ground, too. BADA-BADA-BADA. BADA-BADA-BADA. PLIP. PLIP. BADA. PLAM-PL-PLAM. PLIP. BADA-BADA. My umbrella's a drum.

Premise/plot: A young boy enjoys a rain storm. Downpour was originally published in Japan in 2018. It has recently been translated into English and published in the United States. In some ways, it's a simple book with a simple story: a boy celebrating RAIN. But it's told in a rhythmic, playful way. 

My thoughts: Do I love it more than Umbrella? No. I want to be upfront about that. I love and adore Taro Yashima's UMBRELLA. A thousand stars. A million stars. All the stars. By far my favorite picture book ever-ever-ever. (Taro Yashima was a Japanese artist who immigrated to the United States in 1939. He wrote and illustrated children's books.) But this book comes close--not in artistic style of the illustrations--but in capturing the simple joys of the rhythm of the rain. In the playfulness of language, perhaps. As far as the art goes, there are a few spreads that I absolutely LOVE. So I definitely recommend Downpour! But if you haven't read Umbrella, check that one out too! 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

197-200. Four More Picture Books

197. The Brilliant Ms. Bangle. Cara Devins. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] 

First sentence: It was the very first day of school at Belford Elementary, and the students were so excited to be back.

Premise/plot: The kids may be happy to be back at school, but they are not happy to learn that their librarian from the previous year(s), Ms. Stack, has not come back. Ms. Bangle is the new librarian. Will she get a fair chance? Maybe. Maybe not. Can she out-smart this class of students? Probably. 

My thoughts: Ms. Bangle knows all about reverse psychology. Possibly also love and logic. 

I liked this one okay. Ms. Bangle is certainly a character. Is this a book kids will love? Maybe. Maybe not. Is it a book adult librarians will love? Probably. Possibly. 

198.  Nothing's Wrong! A Hare, a Bear, and Some Pie To Share. Jory John. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Chop, chop, chop, mix, mix, mix, pat, pat, pat. "Ahhhhh, a warm apple pie, freshly baked, straight out of the oven. Jeff will absolutely love this! I can't wait to see the look on his face. It'll be perfect for our picnic this afternoon."

Premise/plot: Anders has baked a pie....but things don't go according to plan when a sudden storm ruins everything. Jeff (the bear) doesn't know what is wrong--Anders is not forthcoming. Can he cheer up his friend? 

My thoughts: Very text-heavy (for better or worse). I enjoyed this friendship. Apparently there is a previous book starring these two friends--Something's Wrong. I enjoyed this one enough to put that one on hold at the library. This one has some mini-lessons on friendship tucked in. I'm not sure these lessons are subtle (or that they are trying to be). But these mini-lessons could potentially be useful in teaching readers (of all ages) how to be a good friend in various situations.

I liked it well enough. 

199. Rain. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Lisa Congdon. 2023. 48 pages. [Source: Library] 

First sentence: There is a softness
and a quiet
before the rain comes.

Premise/plot: This book celebrates...you guessed it...RAIN. It focuses on animals and nature. Readers see how various animals react/respond to coming rain, actual rain, and the aftermath of a good rain. (Hint: everyone loves rain). 

My thoughts: What you see is what you get. If you are looking for a picture book about RAIN then this one is a good, strong, [poetic] choice. 

I liked this one. I loved the text more than the illustrations. (But that could just be me). 

200. Our Dragon. Mem Fox. Illustrated by Linda Davick. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: So here is our dragon! Our dragon is little. He's almost brand-new! And his favorite thing--how I wish it weren't true--is breathing out fire wherever he goes. It comes from his mouth, and it comes from his nose! He doesn't say sorry. He doesn't know how. So his parents say firmly. "Please listen, right now."

Premise/plot: These two human parents are super-frustrated with their new dragon. (Why did they get a baby dragon if they weren't prepared to deal with a baby dragon????) In particular, they get angry that their dragon, their baby dragon, breathes fire. As they continue to try to teach him manners, how to control himself, etc, they continued to scold and express their disappointment. After the baby dragon is crying, then they decide perhaps a little comfort is not out of place. The end.

My thoughts: I did NOT like this one even slightly. Though if I had to pick something to praise about it, it would be the illustrations. I over-think picture books. It's what I do. I read a picture book and take it way too seriously. I think of dozens of questions that pull apart the book's logic and reason. 

In this instance, why are two humans adopting a dragon? Isn't this sending the wrong message about adoption? I'm 99.99% certain that was not the intent. So is the dragon a stand-in for ANY new baby? And if that's the case--which the jacket flap tends to suggest--WHAT on earth is the fire supposed to correlate with???? Fire is literally a hazard--to them, to their house, to everything. And it's something they would have had to known about before bringing it into their home. So obviously they weren't thinking or planning ahead. Fire also seems as natural as breathing to a dragon...so them scolding and reprimanding the dragon until it cries seems not only counterproductive but just plain cruel. It accomplishes nothing useful and is harmful to bonding. Is the fire supposed to represent the messes baby naturally makes? that any and every baby makes? If so, it just seems weird and well, WEIRD. 

I didn't like these two as parents. 

The rhyming felt HORRIBLE in a forced, un-rhythmic way. Like WHY does it have to be told in rhyme like this????

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

78. The Umbrella

The Umbrella. Beth Ferry. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. 2023. [March] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Dreary.
Weary.
Dim.
Grim.
Drip.
Drop.
Nonstop
Gotta go--rain or snow
Come on, pup.

Premise/plot: There have been plenty of books about rainy days--featuring umbrellas or other rain gear--published through the years. I've never seen a rain-themed book with this big a twist. So the premise, a girl and her dog live in a community where it is seemingly ALWAYS raining, ALWAYS gray. But maybe just maybe change is coming!

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I loved the text. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the rhythm and rhyme of it. I am very particular when it comes to rhyming books. I can be harsh if the rhythm is off or weird. The lyrical flow--the rhythm--of this one is perfectly perfect in every way. I love the language--the onomatopoeia. I love how relatable it is. Rainy days CAN feel endless and always gray. Literally and figuratively--I think this one works. I also love the repetition. Every time we came back to Come on, pup...I just smiled.

I love the illustrations. I absolutely love the use of limited colors. Thematically, this one just works really well. I love that the illustrations are capable of carrying the story on their own. So little ones who can't quite read yet, can "read" the pictures.

 Text and illustrations--both perfectly perfect. This is a picture book. But it needs to be a BOARD BOOK and a PICTURE BOOK. I want this book to say in print forever and ever.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Umbrella

Umbrella by Taro Yashima. 1958/2004. Penguin. 40 pages. 

Momo is the name of a little girl who was born in New York. The word Momo means "the peach" in Japan where her father and mother used to live. On her third birthday Momo was given two presents--red rubber boots and an umbrella! They pleased her so much that she even woke up that midnight to take another look at them.

Umbrella by Taro Yashima IS my favorite, favorite, favorite picture book. I can't remember a time when I didn't love and adore this one.

Umbrella is the story of a little girl, Momo, who is oh-so-excited about her birthday presents. On her third birthday, Momo received red rubber boots and an umbrella. But Momo has to learn some patience. For the rain is SLOW in coming. And her parents aren't going to be easily persuaded that her umbrella is a must for dealing with sun and wind.

But, of course, the rain does come. And the wait was worth it. For Momo gets to use her new boots and umbrella. And she gets to walk all by herself without holding onto her mother's or father's hands.

Perhaps it is the rhythm of the rain that makes this such a memorable story? With it's oh-so-lovely refrain:

On her umbrella, the raindrops made the wonderful music--

bon polo
bon polo
ponpolo ponpolo
ponpolo ponpolo
bolo bolo ponpolo
bolo bolo ponpolo
boto boto ponpolo
boto boto ponpolo

all the way home. 

As much as I love the text--and I do LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the text--I must say that I really, really LOVE the illustrations. I do. From cover to cover. Even the end papers. I just LOVE Taro Yashima's artwork. His style made a definite impression on me--and it's one that has stuck with me through the years. There's just something unforgettable about each page--almost each page.

It's just a sweet, sweet book that continues to charm.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Bunny Fun

Weeks, Sarah. 2008. Bunny Fun.

I don't know that Bunny Fun is what I'd call a great book, but it is a fun book. And that counts for something in my opinion. It's predictable. It's repetitive. It's interactive. It's rhythmic. It's cute, but not near the border of cutesy-wutesy. This is how it begins,

"Drip-drop rainy day.
Bunny can't go out to play.
Waiting for the sunny sun,
time to have some . . ."

You guessed it..."Bunny Fun!" This bunny and mouse team get into some trouble indoors--much like in the classic book The Cat and the Hat. (Except, this pair don't need any outside encouragement to make a mess of things. I don't think many kids do though!!! I know I certainly made more than my fair share of messes.)

The book is playful. The illustrations are bright and cheerful. This is one I'm happy to recommend.