★"The straightforward text is relatable and honest, while Glynn’s naïve watercolour, cut paper, pastel, and coloured pencil illustrations are prismatic and surreal…..Reflective and multilayered, this picture book is a potent fable about acceptance and appreciation of differences."
—Quill & Quire, starred review
A heartfelt picture book about differences, acceptance, and loving yourself for who you are.
Wherever he goes, Rain Boy brings wet—which means he's not very popular. Sun Kidd brings sunshine everywhere she goes, so everyone loves her. Only Sun Kidd sees what's special about Rain Boy. But when she invites him to her birthday party, disaster strikes, and Rain Boy storms. Now the world is nothing but rain. Will the other kids ever love Rain Boy for being himself? And. more importantly, can Rain Boy learn to love his rain? Debut author and illustrator Dylan Glynn's colorful and evocative illustrations color this story with all the emotions of the rainbow in this universal story of reaching out to those who look different from you, making new friends, and learning to love yourself.
• Important lessons on acceptance, bullying, self-reliance and empathy told in a beautifully illustrated, accessible story
• A great read-aloud book for families of children struggling to fit in and find their self-confidence
• Perfect book for educators, caregivers, and librarians to help with lessons on bullying, kindness, LGBQT themes, and friendship
Fans of One, The Big Umbrella, and Be Kind will find Rain Boy's striking artwork and positive message an important addition to their bookshelf.
★“Rain Boy and Sun Kidd represent the sunny and rainy dispositions inherent in every human. Detailed watercolor illustrations coupled with succinct text make this book accessible to a wide range of ages. . . . . Children and caregivers will be inspired to interpret its deeper meaning. This is a critical addition to elementary collections to build empathy and acceptance.”
—School Library Journal, starred review
"Glynn's watercolor, cut-paper, pastel, and colored-pencil caricatures and tableaux channel both a delightfully childlike aesthetic and emotionally charged expressionism. . . . Captivating visuals will prompt conversations about the feelings and choices of victim, friend, and community."
—Kirkus Reviews
“Author-illustrator Glynn literalizes weather metaphor to tell a story about acceptance. . . . [T]he art is gorgeous. . . . Expressive use of watercolor, pastels, and colored pencil, in a naive style, stunningly paints a fable with blotchy colors evoking the emotional extremes represented by sunshine and rain clouds. A lovely, if purposeful, tool for early social-emotional learning.”
—Booklist
★"The straightforward text is relatable and honest, while Glynn’s naïve watercolour, cut paper, pastel, and coloured pencil illustrations are prismatic and surreal…..Reflective and multilayered, this picture book is a potent fable about acceptance and appreciation of differences."
—Quill & Quire, starred review