Rain Text Set
by Julia Bell
I designed this text set with the first grade weather unit in mind. I chose to concentrate specifically
on the element of rain: what it is, the effects of it, why it is so important, and what happens when
there is a lack of rain (or drought). I feel that it is important to show students that rain affects
people in different ways and has different meaning for them depending on where they live and the
culture they are from. My intent is to provide students with an all-encompassing range of literature
that goes beyond answering the scientific question of “what is rain?” and help students increase
their multicultural awareness.
Aardema, V. (1981). Bringing the rain to Kapiti Plain. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Grade Level: 1-4
Genre: Folktale
Cultural Perspective: Nandi (African)
Summary: A rhyming tale of Ki-pat, a sheppard, who shoots down the rain from a dark cloud to revitalize
the Kapiti Plain. Reminiscent of the English nursery rhyme, “The House that Jack Built.”
Anaya, R. (2007). The first tortilla: A bilingual story. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.
Grade Level: 3-6
Genre: Traditional
Cultural Perspective: Mexican
Summary: A girl follows a hummingbird to ask the Mountain Spirit for rain to end a drought that threatens the
people. Based on a Mexican legend.
Barrett, J. (1978). Cloudy with a chance of meatballs. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Cultural Perspective: Caucasian
Summary: In the town of Chewandswallow, the weather comes three times a day—bringing conditions such
as raining juice, snowing mashed potatoes, and storms of hamburgers—until the weather takes a turn for the
worst.
Branley, F. M. (1997). Down comes the rain. New York: Harper Collins.
Grade Level: 1-4
Genre: Informational
Cultural Perspective: Diverse Illustrations
Summary: An informational book looks at where rain comes from and the water cycle. Illustrated with
many examples and includes science activities throughout the book.
Cotton, C. (2008). Rain play. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Cont. Realistic Fiction
Cultural Perspective: African American
Summary: In this book that reads like a poem, rain sends many home from the park, but a group of kids
stay to enjoy the rain until thunder and lightening threaten.
Florian, D. (2006). Handsprings: Poems and Paintings. Harper Collins.
Grade Level: 3-5
Genre: Poetry
Cultural Perspective: Diverse Illustrations
Summary: A book of poems about spring that include several about rain. The poems are enhanced by
humor, word play, and watercolor illustrations.
Germein, K. (1999). Big rain coming. New York: Clarion Books.
Grade Level: K-2
Genre: Cont. Realistic Fiction
Cultural Perspective: Aboriginal (Australian Outback)
Summary: Old Stephen, an Aborigine, predicts a big rain coming, but each day just brings more signs of rain until
a week passes and it finally falls.
Lewison, W. C. (2004). Rain drop, plop!. New York: Viking.
Grade Level: preK-K
Genre: Cont. Realistic Fiction
Cultural Perspective: Caucasian
Summary: A young girl finds many things to count on a rainy day until it rains just a little too hard and
she has to go inside. A concept book about numbers.
Sherman, J. (2004). Splish! Splash! A book about rain. Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books.
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Informational
Cultural Perspective: Neutral
Summary: Describes the major concepts about rain: why it rains, why it is important, and the problems caused by
too much or too little rain.
Singer, M. (2000). On the same day in March: A tour of the world’s weather. Harper Collins.
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Informational
Cultural Perspective: World View
Summary: Readers visit 17 places around the world where the different weather conditions are
highlighted on the same day in March.
Stanton, K. (2007). Papi’s gift. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press.
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Cont. Realistic Fiction
Cultural Perspective: Hispanic
Summary: When a drought dries up the crops, a Graciela’s father must go to California, leaving his daughter
behind who anxiously awaits his—and the rain’s—return home. An immigrant labor story from the perspective of
a child left behind.
Stojic, M. (2000). Rain. New York: Crown Publishers.
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Cultural Perspective: African
Summary: Animals of the African savanna use their senses to predict and track the coming rain, and then they
enjoy the benefits of the storm.
Stock, C. (2001). Gugu’s house. New York: Clarion Books.
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Cont. Realistic Fiction
Cultural Perspective: African (Zimbabwe)
Summary: Saddened by the destruction of her art after a much anticipated and needed rain, a girl sees the
goodness of rain as it ends the drought her village is experiencing.
Yee, W. H. (2007). Who likes rain?. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Grade Level: K-2
Genre: Cont. Realistic Fiction
Cultural Perspective: Asian
Summary: A charming story about a girl who plays a guessing game with the reader about which living
things around her like the rain.
http://www.wxdude.com/parents.html (weather resources for teachers)
http://www.vema.gen.va.us/otherpages/Handouts05/Owen.pdf (teaching science with books)