10 books like Rain!

By Linda Ashman, Christian Robinson (illustrator),

Here are 10 books that authors have personally recommended if you like Rain!. Shepherd is a community of 8,000+ authors sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Umbrella

By Taro Yashima,

Book cover of Umbrella

Hyewon Yum Author Of Puddle

From the list on rainy days.

Who am I?

I hate rainy days, I check the weather forecast diligently to make sure I don’t have to go out on a rainy day. However I became a mother of two boys and with little kids, I had to go out rain or shine. My kids don’t get bothered by the rain, they rather love it, so I learned to enjoy the rainy days just like the grumpy old man from RainI And we enjoyed rainy day activities like drawing, reading about rainy day stories while cuddling on the sofa. These books remind me of those happy rainy days and they will certainly brighten up your rainy days.

Hyewon's book list on rainy days

Discover why each book is one of Hyewon's favorite books.

Why did Hyewon love this book?

This book is what I read again and again when I first started writing a picture book. Momo got her umbrella for her birthday gift and she can’t wait to use it. The little girl’s impatience, anticipation are plainly described and it brings me to the childhood days when every day is anew, novel, and splendid.

Umbrella

By Taro Yashima,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Umbrella as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Momo can't wait to use the red boots and umbrella she received on her birthday.  All she needs now is a rainy day!  Soft illustrations portray a thoughtful story about patience and growing independence.


Chirri & Chirra, the Rainy Day

By Kaya Doi, David Boyd (translator),

Book cover of Chirri & Chirra, the Rainy Day

Hyewon Yum Author Of Puddle

From the list on rainy days.

Who am I?

I hate rainy days, I check the weather forecast diligently to make sure I don’t have to go out on a rainy day. However I became a mother of two boys and with little kids, I had to go out rain or shine. My kids don’t get bothered by the rain, they rather love it, so I learned to enjoy the rainy days just like the grumpy old man from RainI And we enjoyed rainy day activities like drawing, reading about rainy day stories while cuddling on the sofa. These books remind me of those happy rainy days and they will certainly brighten up your rainy days.

Hyewon's book list on rainy days

Discover why each book is one of Hyewon's favorite books.

Why did Hyewon love this book?

These two girls’ everyday adventure series! I adore these twin books since I am a twin myself! Color penciled illustration is always beautiful but I like how Kaya draws the rain here. You can see a drizzle, a shower, a downpour, and even an upside-down rain here. Surely the rain hater like myself can become a rain person.

Chirri & Chirra, the Rainy Day

By Kaya Doi, David Boyd (translator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Chirri & Chirra, the Rainy Day as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One cloudy day, Chirri & Chirra decide to go out on their bicycles. Dring-dring, dring dring! It's already starting to rain. As is each of their adventures, this one is completely magical and full of wonder. It is also set in a world where, as if by magic (though perhaps it's the force of the creative imagination?), they always find what they need. Pedaling along, they discover a shop. What luck! The sign says it's only open on rainy days. How perfect. Chirri & Chirra order tea. Each is served tea with a bowl of sweet ice rocks. It's a…


The Longest Storm

By Dan Yaccarino,

Book cover of The Longest Storm

Hyewon Yum Author Of Puddle

From the list on rainy days.

Who am I?

I hate rainy days, I check the weather forecast diligently to make sure I don’t have to go out on a rainy day. However I became a mother of two boys and with little kids, I had to go out rain or shine. My kids don’t get bothered by the rain, they rather love it, so I learned to enjoy the rainy days just like the grumpy old man from RainI And we enjoyed rainy day activities like drawing, reading about rainy day stories while cuddling on the sofa. These books remind me of those happy rainy days and they will certainly brighten up your rainy days.

Hyewon's book list on rainy days

Discover why each book is one of Hyewon's favorite books.

Why did Hyewon love this book?

This book is the newest of my pick, and it’s about the storm but also it reminds me of the lockdown we had last year. How tiny our place become, and how annoying our family members can be when we’re stuck all together in the small apartment. But then how lucky we are to have someone we love with us all the time.

The Longest Storm

By Dan Yaccarino,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Longest Storm as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


A New York Times 2021 Best Children's Book

A Publishers Weekly 2021 Best Book of the Year

A 100 Scope Notes / SLJ blog Best Book of 2021

A Los Angeles Public Library Best Children's Book

A Chicago Public Library Best Children's Book

"The Longest Storm" feels like a validation-a blessing, even." - Wall Street Journal

This heartwarming family story from acclaimed author-illustrator Dan Yaccarino features a father and his kids who are stuck inside the house together - and figure out how to connect and overcome conflict. A New York Public Library 2021 Best Books for Kids selection.

No…


Book cover of If Winter Comes, Tell It I'm Not Here

Hyewon Yum Author Of Puddle

From the list on rainy days.

Who am I?

I hate rainy days, I check the weather forecast diligently to make sure I don’t have to go out on a rainy day. However I became a mother of two boys and with little kids, I had to go out rain or shine. My kids don’t get bothered by the rain, they rather love it, so I learned to enjoy the rainy days just like the grumpy old man from RainI And we enjoyed rainy day activities like drawing, reading about rainy day stories while cuddling on the sofa. These books remind me of those happy rainy days and they will certainly brighten up your rainy days.

Hyewon's book list on rainy days

Discover why each book is one of Hyewon's favorite books.

Why did Hyewon love this book?

I’m a big fan of Simona Ciraolo, and the cover of this book is so perfect! Every spread is filled with brilliant moments of the four seasons. Especially the rainy day spreads are my favorites. It makes you anticipate rainy days even though you’re not a rain person.

If Winter Comes, Tell It I'm Not Here

By Simona Ciraolo,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked If Winter Comes, Tell It I'm Not Here as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Come summer, autumn or winter, a little boy is going to make the best of it.

Nothing is better than summer, swimming every day and eating ice cream. But a little boy's big sister has BIG news. She tells him that summer is going to end soon ... and winter is coming! When winter comes, she says, it will be cold ... and dark ... and rain all the time. They'll be stuck on the sofa for days and won't even dream of eating ice cream...

From author-illustrator Simona Ciraolo, this is a celebration of the changing of the seasons,…


Swim Team

By Johnnie Christmas,

Book cover of Swim Team

Misty Wilson Author Of Play Like a Girl

From the list on graphic novels featuring girls who persevere.

Who am I?

Growing up, if I wasn’t good at something right away, I’d quit. I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of others. Because of that, I never experienced how great it felt to overcome obstacles, to succeed at something hard—until I played football. Girls Who Persevere is an important topic to me because so often, girls are treated as if they’re inferior or incapable. It’s ingrained in them that they shouldn’t try certain things (like football!), and if they fail at first, it must mean they can’t do it. I think it’s important to see strong girls doing big things, even when they’re hard. These books show just that.

Misty's book list on graphic novels featuring girls who persevere

Discover why each book is one of Misty's favorite books.

Why did Misty love this book?

My favorite thing about this graphic novel is easily the Black history that is woven into this fictional story. As someone who’s always struggled with anxiety, I love how the main character’s anxiety is depicted in the story. Though she doesn’t know how to swim, and she’s scared of the water, Bree leaves her comfort zone. This book is a must-read for kids. It feels important.

Swim Team

By Johnnie Christmas,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Swim Team as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Combines wonderful characters and history to create a story that will make you want to dive right in!" JERRY CRAFT, author of the Newbery Medal-winning New Kid

A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas!

Bree can't wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees-until she's stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she's forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta,…


Let the Right One in

By John Ajvide Lindqvist, Ebba Segerberg (translator),

Book cover of Let the Right One in

Leopoldo Gout Author Of Piñata

From the list on reminding us that the past never dies.

Who am I?

I’m an author, visual artist, and film producer. I’m originally from Mexico but studied fine art in London at Central St Martins School of art with a scholarship. I’ve had a wild career of writing, packaging, developing, and publishing books for more than a decade. You can see some of my visual art in galleries, museums, and my Instagram @leopoldoleopoldo or in my most recent illustrated novel Monarca. My forthcoming novel, Piñata, is a supernatural possession story driven by the real horrors of colonialism in my native Mexico. I wrote it as an outlet for a simultaneous love and rage at the world, history, my country, and current events.

Leopoldo's book list on reminding us that the past never dies

Discover why each book is one of Leopoldo's favorite books.

Why did Leopoldo love this book?

This is a book that to me was a Rocketship!

It covers so many themes I love and redefined a Vampire tale… It danced around gender, social horror, and coming of age; but something I find very intriguing about this book’s world is its past, or lack thereof.

The town it takes place in is described as missing a past early on, which made such a stark impact on me considering it is a book that deconstructs such a historied character: the vampire.

The vampire is taken into such new contexts, not a suave, rich, handsome aristocratic type, but a young kid living on the outskirts of modern society. It takes an old convention used to talk about the problems of its day into a modern setting, literally mutilating Eli to discuss contemporary societal horror. 

It was intimate and glorious, making you feel the hunger and literally growing incredible empathy…

Let the Right One in

By John Ajvide Lindqvist, Ebba Segerberg (translator),

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Let the Right One in as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

John Ajvide Lindqvist’s international bestseller Let the Right One In is “a brilliant take on the vampire myth, and a roaring good story” (New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong), the basis for the multi-film festival award-winning Swedish film, the U.S. adaptation Let Me In directed by Matt Reeves (The Batman), and the Showtime TV series.

It is autumn 1981 when inconceivable horror comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenager is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at…


Ivy and Bean

By Annie Barrows, Sophie Blackall (illustrator),

Book cover of Ivy and Bean

Violet Lemay Author Of Let's Be Friends: A Lift-The-Flap Book

From the list on friendship and the courage to reach out to others.

Who am I?

I’ve lived for over fifty years as a bashful introvert with social anxiety, which gives me a heightened appreciation for friendships, and for books about making friends. As an author and illustrator—and as a mom—my artistic mission is to create books that help all children feel cherished and appreciated. Everybody wants to be loved, everybody wants a friend. Even the loners and introverts out there. I love and collect books about friendship because they model friendly behaviors. These books give me the desire and the courage to reach out to others, and since I’m an extreme case, I imagine they must have a similar effect on most readers.

Violet's book list on friendship and the courage to reach out to others

Discover why each book is one of Violet's favorite books.

Why did Violet love this book?

This beautifully written, beautifully illustrated, hilarious tale of an unlikely friendship is so fantastic that it spawned a beloved series! Both the words and the art will keep you and your young one engaged and giggling. The original Ivy and Bean remains my favorite, but the entire series is wonderful. Perfect early chapter books for mischievous readers.

Ivy and Bean

By Annie Barrows, Sophie Blackall (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ivy and Bean as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The moment they saw each other, Bean and Ivy knew they wouldn't be friends. But when Bean plays a joke on her sister, Nancy, and has to quickly hide and Ivy comes to the rescue, proving that sometimes the best of friends are people never meant to like each other. Vibrant characters and lots of humor make this a charming and addictive introduction to the Ivy and Bean Book Series.

From beloved children's book author Annie Barrows, The Ivy & Bean collection has been delighting preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and kids of all ages for nearly two decades. Centered upon messages…


Book cover of Unicorns Are the Worst!

Jess Hernandez Author Of First Day of Unicorn School

From the list on unusual unicorns.

Who am I?

No one would ever describe me as a unicorn. I’m not graceful. My mane of hair is half an inch long. And I rarely (if ever) prance. I’m a donkey in a party hat and that’s perfectly okay with me. But sometimes it can be kinda rough in a world that tells you that you must be gorgeous instead of goofy, fabulous instead of funny. So I love stories that make me feel a little less alone in my awkwardness – that remind me that all of us, from the most beautiful unicorn to the weirdest little goblin, are not quite what they seem.  

Jess' book list on unusual unicorns

Discover why each book is one of Jess' favorite books.

Why did Jess love this book?

When a hardworking goblin gets a frivolous unicorn for a neighbor, it’s easy to understand why he’s a bit put out. After all, he knows many useful magical skills, like turning socks into slugs and making (broccoli-flavored) ice cream out of broccoli. So where are the kids begging for goblin-themed birthday parties, huh? What makes unicorns so special? Great for anyone who’s ever felt overlooked or a little jealous of the popular kids.

Unicorns Are the Worst!

By Alex Willan,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Unicorns Are the Worst! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, this wildly funny and imaginative picture book celebrates the value of differences as a grumpy goblin gets to know his new unicorn neighbors.

It’s an undeniable fact that unicorns are the worst!

Magic is serious business, but all unicorns do is frolic around, have tea parties, and leave glitter all over the place! They’re nothing like goblins—practical and hard-working, who can put magic to good use! Unicorns aren’t helpful at all.

Or are they?


The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

By George Saunders, Lane Smith (illustrator),

Book cover of The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta Author Of Edit Your Life: A Handbook for Living with Intention in a Messy World

From the list on inspiring you to change your life.

Who am I?

I’m an American author and writing teacher for both Harvard and Oxford’s online writing programs. I am also a mother of two who lived three years in a tiny backyard guest house with my family in an effort to focus more on what we love. Editing books is a practice I have honed over decades, and when my family was stuck in a living situation that felt unsustainable, the clearest way forward was for me to ask myself how I might edit our way out of it. It worked! In this book, I share the most valuable eight principles that we learned through the process.

Elisabeth's book list on inspiring you to change your life

Discover why each book is one of Elisabeth's favorite books.

Why did Elisabeth love this book?

One that I give to anyone who is stuck in a pickle. Saunders’ book for young readers, illustrated in the oddball style of Lane Smith, tells of a girl named Capable who does her best and finds that it is still not good enough. So she makes an unthinkable change.

Reading this book to my children led to a eureka that we might change our own family life in a similarly unthinkable way.

The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

By George Saunders, Lane Smith (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A gapper is a bit of a 'burr' but it is a dangerous thing. When it attaches itself to the goats the goats become very unhappy and even stop giving milk. There is nothing gappers like more than goats and nothing goats hate more than gappers. When gappers get your goats it means trouble. In one small town gappers are a real pest and it takes the ingenious approach of Capable to find a soution - if a solution exists at all.


Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

By Eileen Spinelli, Paul Yalowitz (illustrator),

Book cover of Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Kathleen Doherty Author Of The Thingity-Jig

From the list on picture books with hope, happiness, and empathy.

Who am I?

I’m a former reading specialist/educational specialist who still enjoys reading aloud to students, helping kids learn to read, and introducing them to quality literature. I love reading picture books...and I write them to entertain and empower kids.

Kathleen's book list on picture books with hope, happiness, and empathy

Discover why each book is one of Kathleen's favorite books.

Why did Kathleen love this book?

The story inspires sadness, hope, and happiness. At first, you’ll feel sorry for Mr. Hatch. You’ll care about him and wonder why he is the way he is. You’ll watch him receive a gift that has a lasting effect on him. Then, with a turn of events, you’ll feel sorry for him again. But by the end, you’ll be rooting for him.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

By Eileen Spinelli, Paul Yalowitz (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One wintry day, a postman delivers a mysterious package with a big pink bow to a lonely man named Mr. Hatch.

"Somebody loves you," the note says.
"Somebody loves me!" Mr. Hatch sings as he dusts his living room.
"Somebody loves me!" Mr. Hatch whistles as he does his errands in town.
"But who," Mr. Hatch wonders, "could that somebody be?"

When Mr. Hatch discovers just who his secret admirer is, the answer is even better than he could have guessed!


5 book lists we think you will like!

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