Rabbits and Raindrops

by Jim Arnosky, Jim Arnosky (Illustrator)

Overview

It's the first day outside the nest for Mother rabbit's five babies, and all sorts of new creatures and adventures await them. But when a sudden rain shower sends the rabbits scurrying for shelter under the hedge, the other wild animals come to visit them! Jim Arnosky's graceful watercolors and simple text are sure to delight children experiencing nature's wonders for the first time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780698118157
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/05/2001
Series:	Picture Puffin Books
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	143,886
Product dimensions:	8.57(w) x 10.75(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Self-taught artist and naturalist Jim Arnosky has written and illustrated over 90 nature books for children, as well as illustrated over 50 books by other authors. Kirkus Reviews has called his work “first-rate natural history for the youngest.” Jim divides his time between Vermont and the Florida Keys. Visit Jim at jimarnosky.com.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 1In Arnosky's shimmering world, five bunnies emerge from their nest under the hedge for the very first time. Romping in the sun-drenched fields, meeting grasshoppers, spiders, and bees, the baby rabbits' curiosity is evident even as they stick close to their mother. A sudden storm causes them to hurry back and huddle inside their shelter, where other animals join them as they watch honeybees fly between the raindrops. Then the rain stops and the six reemerge to "play rabbit tag in the sun." The simple text carries readers along rhythmically and naturally as the day unfolds. Drawn from the animals' perspective, the glowing illustrations are precise in their depiction of the wildlife; the bright, vibrant watercolors flow from hot yellows and luminescent greens to the muted blues of rain. Each double-page spread draws readers into this fulfilling microcosmic view of the natural world. Perfect for story-time or lap-time reading, this book will give children a feeling of security and contentment.Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI

School Library Journal

It's the first day outside the nest for mother rabbit's five babies, and all sorts of new creatures and adventures await them. But when a sudden rain shower sends the rabbits scurrying for shelter under the hedge, the other wild animals come to visit them! Very strongly recommended for young readers preschool through second grade, Jim Arnosky's Rabbits & Raindrops showcases an engaging, simply worded picturebook story that is gracefully illustrated throughout with lovely watercolors.

Arnosky (Nearer Nature, p. 964, etc.) continues his nature observations in this tale of five bunnies who come out to play in the grass with their mother and spot a caterpillar, butterfly, bird, spider, bumblebee, and more small creatures before raindrops chase them back under the hedge. Small rabbits—and other creatures that come in from the rain—appear in appealing green, gold, and brown scenes that will charm young viewers. Children may not understand (or care) that raindrops remain spherical—as depicted in the illustrations—when they fall, but adults will probably question such a literal depiction of a phenomenon that cannot be seen by the human eye. It's an admirable attempt to make nature accessible, but the real story is in the playfulness of the bunnies and the world they inhabit.

Kirkus Reviews