Delightful fairy tale of unconventional parenthood. ( )

I maybe cried... ( )

Author Laura Krauss Melmed and illustrator Jim LaMarche join forces in this beautiful original fairy-tale, which follows the trials and tribulations of an elderly couple who longs for a child. When they discover twelve little rainbabies in a moon shower one night, they take in the diminutive orphans, and protect them from every danger, whether from water or fire. They are offered riches for the babies, but they refuse, and their worth as parents is rewarded when Mother Moonshower arrives to claim her children, bringing a human child in exchange...

Although I have enjoyed other books by both Melmed and LaMarche, and although I have long been aware of The Rainbabies, which was first published almost thirty years ago, I never happened to pick it up. Thanks are due to my friend Amalie for recommending it to me, and reminding me to get to it! The story itself is engaging, with lots of traditional folk/fairy-tale elements, from the childless couple to the miniature children, and the accompanying artwork is simply gorgeous! LaMarche never fails to please, and his luminous paintings here are particularly lovely. Recommended to fairy-tale lovers, and to anyone who appreciates beautiful picture-books. ( )

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I just recently got it back out to read to my daughter Miriam. It is about an older couple who could never have children but one day they find bunch of tiny babies in the grass only about the size as their thumb. They take care of them and love them even though they are different. They face some unimaginable troubles that put their babies in danger but every time they prove that they will do anything to protect their babies. By the end a man comes and tries to offer them wealth to give the babies up but they refuse. Then a magical woman comes and says they are her babies and that the old couple has proven to be loyal and reliable and she blesses them with their own baby. I just always loved this story because of how caring and loving the couple was. Now I think the message it is sending is that when you take care of something and put it above all else you will be happy in the end kind of like good karma. ( )

Summary:
This book follows an old couple who never had children due to the demand of life. One day, the rain brought a suprise to the couple: 12 little "rain babies." Once taking he babies in as their own, the couple faces many obstacles regarding parenthood and demands of their current life. One day, a stranger shows up offering riches in exchange for the 12 babies, the old couple declined. By doing this, mother moon arouse. By passing the test given to the old couple by mother moon, she gifted the old couple a baby of their own.

Personal Reaction:
This was such a beautiful book. The illustrations throughout were so wonderful, and the story is full of imagination. Many aspect of fantasy, like tiny little rain babies and mother moon sending them to the couple, give a nice twist on couples who can not have children of their own and seek adoption .

Classroom Extension:
1.) I could start by reading the book to the children, and asking them questions about why the couple was sad and what happened throughout the book to make them happy.
2.) I could have the children come up with their own version of a short story similar to The Rainbabies.