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Book cover of When Rain Falls
Weather, Climate & Seasons, Animals - General & Miscellaneous, Animal Habitats, Fiction - General & Miscellaneous

When Rain Falls

by Melissa Stewart, Constance R. Bergum
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Overview

We go inside when the rain comes down, but where do animals go? That depends on the kind of animal and where it lives. Bees hide in hives and ants stay safe in underground nests. Squirrels pull their long bushy tails over their heads like umbrellas. Caterpillars crawl under leaves. This new book for young readers offers a first glimpse at how different animals in different habitats behave during a thunderstorm.

In simple, easy-to-understand language, veteran children's book author Melissa Stewart takes a lyrical look at the behavior of animals in forests, fields, wetlands, and deserts and briefly describes how each creature interacts with its rained-soaked environment. Constance Bergum's soft, watercolor paintings colorfully depict the animals and special features of each habitat. Individual sidebar and panel illustrations provide close-up details of the natural world.

Synopsis

We go inside when the rain comes down, but where do animals go? That depends on the kind of animal and where it lives. Bees hide in hives and ants stay safe in underground nests. Squirrels pull their long bushy tails over their heads like umbrellas. Caterpillars crawl under leaves. This new book for young readers offers a first glimpse at how different animals in different habitats behave during a thunderstorm.

In simple, easy-to-understand language, veteran children's book author Melissa Stewart takes a lyrical look at the behavior of animals in forests, fields, wetlands, and deserts and briefly describes how each creature interacts with its rained-soaked environment. Constance Bergum's soft, watercolor paintings colorfully depict the animals and special features of each habitat. Individual sidebar and panel illustrations provide close-up details of the natural world.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2- After two children hurry inside to escape the rain, they gaze outdoors and wait for the end of the storm. Stewart elaborates on how various animals react to rain in different habitats: a forest, a field, a wetland, and a desert. The examples are clearly presented and interesting (e.g., squirrels use their bushy tails like umbrellas, hawks puff up feathers to keep warm). Bergum's well-rendered watercolors will facilitate group sharing. The page design of large panels separated by vertical white spaces adds visual interest. Unfortunately, the paintings of the children aren't as appealing as those of the animals in their environments. Still, the book would be a good choice for rainy-day sharing or to introduce a weather unit featuring such nonfiction classics as Franklyn Branley's Down Comes the Rain (HarperCollins, 1997).-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

About the Author, Melissa Stewart

Award-winning author Melissa Stewart has written more than 50 science books for kids (and edited more than 200)! Her background in biology and journalism makes her perfect for bringing science to kids.

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Editorials

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2- After two children hurry inside to escape the rain, they gaze outdoors and wait for the end of the storm. Stewart elaborates on how various animals react to rain in different habitats: a forest, a field, a wetland, and a desert. The examples are clearly presented and interesting (e.g., squirrels use their bushy tails like umbrellas, hawks puff up feathers to keep warm). Bergum's well-rendered watercolors will facilitate group sharing. The page design of large panels separated by vertical white spaces adds visual interest. Unfortunately, the paintings of the children aren't as appealing as those of the animals in their environments. Still, the book would be a good choice for rainy-day sharing or to introduce a weather unit featuring such nonfiction classics as Franklyn Branley's Down Comes the Rain (HarperCollins, 1997).-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Kirkus Reviews

When rain falls, children go indoors, but what do the animals do? A simple text and gentle watercolor illustrations, organized by habitat, reveal how in forests, fields, wetlands and deserts 22 different species respond. Some take cover; others carry their own protection. Spadefoot toads take advantage of the event to come out to lay their eggs. Besides the variety of animals, from squirrels and ladybugs through snakes and owls, the illustrations show vegetation appropriate to each environment. Displayed in squares and rectangles, they suggest looking through windows to the natural world outside. Although there are some odd proportions, the illustrations have a naturalistic feel and the information, though simple, is accurate. Beginning and ending with parallel scenes of a boy and girl flying a kite on a hillside, this should appeal to very young listeners curious about the natural world. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-7)

Book Details

Published
March 1, 2008
Publisher
Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
Pages
32
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9781561454389

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