The Rain Train
“When the rain fingers drum out a dance on the pane, / When the windows are foggy enough for my name, / A pitter-pat-pat, a pitter-pat-pat, / A pittery-pittery-pittery-pat.” A brown-skinned boy imagines that the rain on his window is a train arriving in his neighborhood. All the children emerge from their homes and climb on board for a journey that surely owes at least some of its inspiration to Chris Van Allsburg’s Polar Express. Author Elena deRoo makes this a story all her own with a sound- and rhythm-rich narrative that masterfully uses onomatopoeia. Brian Lovelock capitalizes on a dark, colorful nighttime palette as the fanciful, soothing story plays out in lovely illustrations that feature a diverse group of children. “Storm past the stations, no one alights. / Safe in my sleeper, I steam through the night. / Ssshhhhhhhhh.” ©2011 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Brian Lovelock
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 2-5
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Nighttime
Vehicles and Transportation
Weather
Diversity subject:
Brown Skin Unspecified
Publisher:
Candlewick
Publish Year: 2011
Pages: 24
ISBN: 9780763653132
CCBC Location: Picture Book, de Roo