Rain
Book Summary:
Rain! by Linda Ashman is a charming picture book that tells the story of two very different people experiencing the same rainy day—a grumpy old man and a cheerful little boy. As they each react to the rain in opposite ways, their paths eventually cross in a heartwarming encounter that changes the old man's outlook. With minimal text and expressive illustrations, the book celebrates how attitude and kindness can brighten even the gloomiest days.
Recommended Questions:
Pretend you are the elderly gentleman- how would you retell this story?
Pretend you are the young child- how would you retell this story?
It seems the elderly gentlemen is having a hard day, what strategies have you used when your having a hard day?
Can you help me imagine different ways this story could end?
Who else might tell us the story? How would their story differ --- Door man, restaurant worker, newspaper worker?
Who can help you when your having a hard day?
How can you help others who are having a bad day?
Standards:
NCSS Theme 10: Civic Ideals and Practices
Rain! shows how people’s moods and personalities shape their experiences and relationships. The grumpy man and the cheerful child both walk through the same rainy city, but their different attitudes lead to very different days. Students can analyze how emotions and perspective influence identity and interactions.
Social Justice Anchor Standard 9: Connection Across Differences
The friendship that grows between the boy and the man models how people of different ages and moods can find connection through small acts of kindness.
WA Civics 4: Understands Civic Involvement
This story shows how individual attitudes and small acts of kindness can positively influence others and strengthen a sense of community. Through the boy’s cheerful empathy and the man’s changed outlook, students see how everyday actions contribute to a caring, respectful society.
