Grahame Baker-Smith is a huge talent in picture book illustration, and his images of the natural world here are deep, vibrant and painterly, which will absorb slightly older picture book readers in their watery depths. The Rhythm of the Rain is poetically written, yet it’s very clear and concise so I think children of all ages will understand the themes here, and with discussion it would be perfect for use in schools. It’s gentle and rhythmic and very easy to read out loud. The accompanying writing provides a narrative and adds human elements to the water’s journey, making links to the water cycle and physical geography. And, in a country far away, the mist that has evaporated from the sea turns into rain and provides water for a thirsty girl to drink.

The Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith The Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith

Non-fiction books take many forms from the overtly factual information books, to a more subtle “fun” form. And without doubt there is a place for all forms, I think any way we can get non-fiction books out there, the better. The Rhythm of the Rain take non-fiction to another level, by injecting heart and emotion and scale into a very science and nature based theme and it really works so beautifully. During my stint as a teacher, I would have loved to have something like this to support my teaching. But, you know, non-fiction, education value aside, this book is just wonderful. beautiful and astounding to look at. This book is something I used in a guided reading session on my placement. I used this as an alternative text focus and really enjoyed reading a specific extract from the text to the children and asking them to make inferences about the text. Due to reading this small extract I was determined to read this book for myself. And I’m very glad I did! Issac plays in his favourite pool on the mountainside. As rain starts to fall, he empties his little jar of water into the pool and races the sparkling streams as they tumble over waterfalls, rush through swollen rivers and burst out into the vast open sea. Where will my little jar of water go now? Issac wonders. On the other side of the world, Cassi welcomes the rain to her parched village . . . From tiniest raindrop to deepest ocean, this breathtaking celebration of the water cycle captures the remarkable movement of water across the earth in all its majesty. A stunning new non-fiction picture book from Greenaway medal-winner, Grahame Baker-Smith. About This Edition ISBN: A picture book that is educational, relaxing, and absolutely gorgeous? I am totally here for it! Also, since it has been 30°C degrees here (86°F), I have been longing for it to rain, who would have thought I would ever say that?I think it is fantastic that you can enjoy reading this story just before bedtime, because of its astonishing artwork and poetic sentences. At the same time, this picture book is perfect to teach about the water cycle, both in the classroom or when homeschooling. Your class will discover the process and the stages of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection. This book could be used at the beginning of an infant science topic about the water cycle, where children could be encouraged to produce a story map of the water’s journey through the book. This could act as a springboard from which to learn more about the water cycle through an experiment (the ‘cloud in a jar’ experiment springs to mind).

The Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith | Waterstones

LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives.Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments Our servers are getting hit pretty hard right now. To continue shopping, enter the characters as they are shown The ubiquity of water throughout the world, its necessity to humans and animals and how the water cycle works are all explored in an imaginative combination of words and pictures. It begins and ends with Issac, playing in a pool by a mountainside as raindrops start to fall, and wondering where the water goes from a jar he empties. The reader follows the river that flows past Issac’s home as it winds through the countryside and the city to the sea. Mist from the ocean rises up into a cloud bringing rain to thirsty people in a land far from Issac’s pool. A glorious non-fiction text that translates beautifully in the classroom. It's perfect for poetry inspiration, re-telling and learning about the water cycle.