Come on Rain!

Come on Rain by Karen Hesse, was another book I received last year for my birthday, this time from my sister. The book has a sort old-fashioned feel to it, with the main character Tess bored with the heat and wanting the rain alongside her friends as a playmate. It had that good-old days feeling, before kids became glued to their DS systems and flat screen  T.V.s. The story itself is told in a folky, sharable way with plenty of dialogue and character development. Tess is impressive because she very clearly embraces the simple pleasures in life, and the illustrator Jon J Murth creates beautiful watercolor pictures to give us a better idea of this hot southern town that just wants a little bit of rain. :)

As a pre-activity, I would allow the students to picture walk the book and piece together what they think happens as the conclusion to the story. This book permits an open opportunity for learners to create their own dialogue, which could be the post activity, sharing it with a small group of peers or a partner. This is a great and relaxing read that is suitable for 1st-3rd graders. There is also a multicultural piece woven in, where time period collides with friendships in children of different races. I enjoy how that plays almost no factor in this story, especially in the south, and though later on in the illustrations you see how the mothers were somewhat separated by race with their daughters, they didn't seem to be afraid or upset to all be in the same place, enjoying one of life's great pleasures of simplicity.