Pajama Press

Worlds of Words

“What a beautiful book about such a terrible phenomenon! The reality, however, is that flooding happens across the world and has the potential for great destruction. The young protagonist in this picturebook has some real spunk and AGENCY. I think this is a wonderful book to share with young people, showing Malini’s responsibility but also the danger of flooding.”

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Brigham Young University, Children’s Book & Media Reviews

“Rating: Excellent…

Told in free verse from Malini’s point of view, this tale reveals the coming-of-age of a young Sri Lankan girl. A note at the back of the book explains more about life in Sri Lanka, the importance of rice as a staple food, and the two monsoon seasons which affect the area. Readers unfamiliar with this small country would likely benefit from reading the note first to provide context for the story. Poignantly written, When The Rain Comes provides insight into the diversity of life through Malini’s weighty struggle to ensure prosperity for her community in the coming year.”

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“Rendered in pencil and watercolor, the illustrations depict the drama and danger of the wind, driving rain, and Malini’s effort to protect the rice seedlings and soothe the ox.”

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“The moods of Sri Lanka’s rainy season come alive as Kim La Fave, illustrator of the award-winning Shin Chi’s Canoe, uses a fresh style that is both contemporary and impressionistic to depict the courage of one little girl facing the power of a flash flood….

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and, surprisingly, lyrical. The writing is, too, but even without words, this book would still be fairly easy to understand as well as moving.”

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“Malini is a little girl who lives in Sri Lanka….This year, Malini is learning to help in the rice fields….Unusual setting, striking illustrations, and an additional note telling more about Sri Lanka. Ages 3 and up.”

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“The free verse text provides a suspenseful slice of South Asian life. Paint and pencil impressionistic illustrations depict the rain’s ferocity. Back matter gives additional information about Sri Lanka, its geography, and the importance of rice to the culture.”

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“A perilous flash flood threatens a young Sri Lankan girl’s life and her village’s livelihood in this compelling picture book. Fullerton’s spare and lyrical text opens with Malini waking up, excited to learn how to plant rice seedlings and contribute to her community’s well-being….Endnotes explain the realities of child labor, poverty, and a dependence on rice as a staple crop in Sri Lanka, and the book as a whole offers a powerful portrait of a child’s bravery and perseverance.”
—Megan Dowd Lambert

Read the full review in the May 2017 issue of The Hornbook

“…Filled with ear-pleasing rhythms and onomatopoeia, Alma Fullerton’s vivacious free verse paints Malini’s character with deft strokes, and stirringly describes the action. Kim La Fave’s color-splashed illustrations set the scene and create a strong sense of motion, as the ox looms large above the girl, the monsoon unleashes, or Maili returns to the arms of her worried family. When the Rain Comes provides a vivid glimpse at life on an island country in Asia, as well as a satisfying look at a child who discovers the inner fortitude needed to overcome difficult circumstances.”

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“…Alma Fullerton tells to tale in free verse. She successfully conjures up the sights and especially the sounds of a day in Sri Lanka—the song of the bullock-cart driver, the clop of the ox, the pounding of rain and the cracking of thunder. Kim La Fave’s illustrations magically transform a bedsheet into a flock of birds. He convincingly whips up the wind and slashes rain across the page to convey the frightening immediacy of a flash flood.

Young readers will identify with Malini’s trepidation in facing her new task, and they will cheer for her as she overcomes her own fear to save the day. When the Rain Comes is an engaging story in its own right but could also be used in a classroom setting to spark interest in Sri Lanka, its people, culture, geography, and climate.”
—Ildiko Sumegi

Read the full review on page 32 of the Spring 2017 issue of Canadian Children’s BookNews

“Rating: (1-5, 5 is an excellent or starred review)  5…

What did you like about the book? This is a story of a young girl who lives in Sri Lanka….The illustrations and the text both give the sense of gravity and danger to the situation. The blustery wind and the driving wind, along with the cries of Malini’s family urging her to leave the ox and come to safety show the drama of the choice Malini must make. I especially liked at the end of the book when the author explained just how important rice was to the poor people of Sri Lanka and it put Malini’s actions into a context.

Anything you didn’t like about it? I liked everything about this book.

To whom would you recommend this book? This is a great book to have in a library that fosters multi-culturalism. The story is engaging and children will learn about the culture of Sri Lanka through this book….

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes”
—Sandra Pacheco, ESL teacher, Washington, D.C.

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