RAIN

by Robert Kalan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 21, 1978

Blue sky/ yellow sun/White clouds/Gray clouds/ No sun/Gray sky/ Rain. . . ."" With one word or phrase to a strong, simply designed page, this leads into a series of double-page scenes literally covered with rain--the word Rain, printed over and over, pouring down the page in numberless parallel diagonal lines. There is ""Rain on the green grass/ Rain on the black road/ Rain on the red car. . .,"" then simply ""Rain Rain"" on a spread made dark and stormy by the heavy shower. After that, a blinding retake of the same scene, now brighter than ever in washed-clean basic colors, is spanned--inevitably--by a spanking ""RAINBOW."" The look is very simple, but don't think it hasn't been artfully devised. Note, for evidence, how variations in type give the rain a rippled, kinetic effect; how the houses' gray windows become yellow rectangles on the darkened page, signifying lights turned on within; and how, on several pages, a broken yellow line cuts the black road in half--and works as well to separate the pictures from the few words below. A very early concept book, this is also, incidentally, an ideal pre-reader. But above all, it's an energizing experience.

Pub Date: Aug. 21, 1978

ISBN: 0688104797

Page Count: -

Publisher: Greenwillow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1978

Categories: CHILDREN'S