After the Rain

Levi watches the rain out his window. “Drip. Drop. Plink.” It has finally stopped. Levi dons his yellow raincoat and rain boots, grabs his boat, and runs out the door. The gutters are overflowing and raging through the streets. It’s perfect for sailing! As Levi races his boat, he splashes and swishes through puddles, keeping ahead of his toy. He then spots the grate—oh no! He rescues his boat just in time. But then Polly shows up and proclaims, “My river! No boats here!” A battle begins, with Levi attacking and Polly defending. There is slinging, hurling and flinging! But soon there is no splashing either, or dribbling and rippling, because the water is flowing down the grate. Can Levi and Polly call a truce instead?

Rebecca Koehn’s fun and alliterative After the Rain will have readers planning for the next rainy day. The author uses sparse language to convey Levi’s joy and Polly’s anger. Their rivalry eventually turns from fighting into collaboration when they realize the water is drying up. The book sends a strong message about friendship and working together. Simone Krüger’s illustrations pop with color and will bring a smile to your face.