A Place for Rain by Michelle Schaub & Art by Blanca Gomez (2024)

A Place for Rain is such a lovely, lyrical picture book. In the beginning, school children are riding on their bus through a downpour. Everything is soaked! The rainfall even picks up the oil and grime from the school’s street. Where does that yucky water go? Into our waterways! Bad news. Oh wait! There is a solution - rain barrels and rain gardens! The students work with their teacher to build a rain garden brimming with colorful native plants. 

The author, Michelle Schaub, JUST spoke to our SCBWI Illinois group and I missed it! In the rush of end-of-school-year parenting, it wasn’t even on my radar, so I must seek out the recording to hear more from this remarkable author! 

Head: The back matter includes, “Make Room for Rain” which shows the reader how to create a rain garden and use a rain barrel. Check this out! Use this book if your school or your family is planning to build a rain garden. We have had a lot of rain here in Illinois. I am inspired to build a rain garden and get a rain barrel! This book is also excellent for teachers who are doing lessons on alliteration or onomatopoeia - this book is rife with examples. 

Heart: Those of you who know me well know that nothing touches my heart more than getting kids engaged in finding solutions to our current state of environmental distress. I love seeing the children in this book working towards an eco-friendly solution for their school.