RAINY DAY
illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church
A sturdy little boy prepares to go out in the rain and exhorts readers to help: “I put on my favorite blue pants. Can you help me with the belt?” The child raises his hands exuberantly against his bedroom backdrop, his Velcro belt inviting little fingers to skrritchhh it open and shut. Successive spreads present them with a sweater to button, a zipper to zip and a hat to tie on before he springs, completely dressed, from the center of the concluding spread, ready to “[s]plish, splash” in foil puddles. Each interactive element is unusually sturdy for a touch-and-feel book and sized appropriately for little fingers not yet fully equipped with fine-motor skills. Church’s child-friendly illustrations are just right for this cheery outing. (Pop-up/picture book. 1-3)