April showers got you stuck indoors? Cozy up with one of these awesome picture books about rain to have a great time inside.
The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates (2018). A spacious umbrella welcomes anyone and everyone who needs shelter from the rain.
Ivy and the Lonely Raincloud by Katie Harnett (2017). A lonely little raincloud searches for a friend who might like rain.
My First Day by Nguyen Quang Phong (2021). This is no ordinary first journey. The raining season has come to the Mekong Delta, and An, a young Vietnamese boy, sets out alone in a wooden boat wearing a little backpack and armed only with a single oar. On the way, he is confronted by giant crested waves, heavy rainfall and an eerie forests where fear takes hold of him. Although daunted by the dark unknown, An realizes that he is not alone and continues to paddle. He knows it will all be worth it when he reaches his destination.
Puddle by Hyewon Yum (2016). One rainy day, a little boy is upset because he can’t go out and play. His mom comes up with a way to keep him entertained–by drawing a picture of herself and him going outside, playing in the rain, and splashing in a giant puddle. They have so much fun drawing themselves that they decide to venture out and make the most of the rainy weather.
Rain by Manya Stojic (2000). The animals on the parched African savannah are ready for rain and they will use all their senses to track the coming thunderstorm.
Rain by Sam Usher (2017). It’s raining, but one little boy can’t wait to go outside for an adventure with his granddad.
Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell (2013). On a rainy summer day, three children and their grandpa pick vegetables in his garden and then cook and share a delicious meal of his famous Rainbow Stew.
Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre (2015). With gorgeous photograph illustrations, April Pulley Sayre sheds new light on the wonders of rain, from the beauty of a raindrop balanced on a leaf to the amazing, never-ending water cycle that keeps our planet in perfect ecological balance.
Storm Song by Nancy Viau (2013). As thunder and lightning approach, a family gathers inside to play, sing, eat, and snuggle together until the weather clears. This sweet story captures both the excitement of a thunderstorm and the reassurance children need during a storm.
Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle (2014). It’s a mad dash for shelter as rain sweeps into an urban neighborhood. Where to go? The subway! It’s the perfect place to wait out the wind and weather. Strangers share smiles and umbrellas and take delight in the experience of a city thunderstorm.
