Synopses & Reviews
As a city neighborhood looks for ways to survive a long, hot, summer drought, a single mother and her young son await the birth of a new baby. The heat wave has tempers rising like mercury in a thermometer. Can't cool down! Finally, it rains - a soft, silver rain that brings everyone outside. That night the baby arrives, like the rain, a blessing. Welcome to the world, Silver Rain Brown! The potential for joy and people's ability to survive even difficult circumstances inspired this story of family and community, hope and rebirth.
Review
An African-American boy and his pregnant momma who's grown round as the August moon try to keep cool in the middle of an impossibly hot, drought-stricken summer. The heat continues to rise, but rain finally falls the evening the baby's born. Mother and son decide to call the baby Silver Rain. Pictures rendered in gouache nicely capture the enervating heat as well as the cooling rain in this warm-hearted family story.
Review
Beautiful, almost incantatory language and vivid imagery make this a lovely book about heat and the relief of rain, despite the predictability of the plot. Evocative illustrations help readers feel the sun's intensity and the storm's refreshment. A 1999 Parents' Choice® Silver Honor Winner.
About the Author
Artist Teresa Flavin currently lives in Glasgow. Between trips to India, she clambers about the Scottish highlands with her geographer husband.M.C. Helldorfer is a full-time writer of picture books and novels. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, Bob, and their cat, Puck.