First Rain

Plot Summary

Abby and her parents have moved to Israel, where they've always dreamed  of living.  Abby's excited about her new home, but she misses her grandma.  As they exchange letters and emails, Abby tells about her new life -- learning Hebrew, eating falafel, and floating in the Dead Sea.  And through the long dry summer, as she looks forward to the first rain of autumn, she misses how she and Grandma used to splash and play on rainy days.  Finally one morning Abby hears the long-awaited ping ping ping on the roof.  And then something even more wonderful happens.  Kathryn Mitter's bright paintings perfectly complement Charlotte Herman's appealing story of the love between a grandma and a little girl.

Awards

CCBC Choices 2011

Reviews

"Mitter’s bright full-page acrylics accentuate emotions and the themes of family relationships as the little girl acclimates while maintaining a connection to her former life. This agreeable story also provides some insight into such Israeli essentials as the market (shuk), the Dead Sea and the Western Wall. A sentimental and perhaps idyllic journey filled with the promise of love and fresh beginnings." Kirkus Reviews

"When Abby and her parents depart for their new home in Israel, the rain mirrors the girl’s sadness in leaving her beloved grandmother. They keep in touch through phone calls, emails, and letters....Mitter’s acrylic illustrations also portray a scene at the Western Wall and the diversity of the Israeli population. Besides being a realistic look at another culture, this well-written book is heartwarming and reassuring." School Library Journal

"Herman’s simple story offers a good look at contemporary secular life in Israel as well as the realities of moving far away from family. Mitter’s brightly colored acrylic paintings perfectly complement Herman’s upbeat text and emphasize the special relationship between Abby and Grandmal." Booklist

"These poems, some honorous and some thoughtful, reach into all aspects of a young child's life.'
Horn book Guide

"The realistic, brilliantly colored acrylic paintings add much to the book's story line. As a teaching tool about Israel, this title is sure to be quite useful in both classrooms and homes where Americans have family who live in Israel."
Children's Literature

The illustrations for this warm, cheerful story convey its mood and prove concrete details, such as the diverse group of children in Abby's classroom...First Rain's plot and illustrations, deftly combining the familiar and the new, will strike a chord with young readers."
Association of Jewish Libraries

"This family-oriented picture book is full of color and life. The author does a good job sharing what it feels like to be separated from family, while the illustrator accompanies the text with bright paintings that capture the relationship between grandmother and grandchild."
Library Media Connection

Associated Keywords
Israel, emigration, immigration, rain, grandmother, grandparent, moving