PreS-Gr 2 After two children hurry inside to escape the rain, they gaze outdoors and wait for the end of the storm. Stewart elaborates on how various animals react to rain in different habitats: a forest, a field, a wetland, and a desert. The examples are clearly presented and interesting (e.g., squirrels use their bushy tails like umbrellas, hawks puff up feathers to keep warm). Bergum's well-rendered watercolors will facilitate group sharing. The page design of large panels separated by vertical white spaces adds visual interest. Unfortunately, the paintings of the children aren't as appealing as those of the animals in their environments. Still, the book would be a good choice for rainy-day sharing or to introduce a weather unit featuring such nonfiction classics as Franklyn Branley's Down Comes the Rain (HarperCollins, 1997). Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

When rain falls, children go indoors, but what do the animals do? A simple text and gentle watercolor illustrations, organized by habitat, reveal how in forests, fields, wetlands and deserts 22 different species respond. Some take cover; others carry their own protection. Spadefoot toads take advantage of the event to come out to lay their eggs. Besides the variety of animals, from squirrels and ladybugs through snakes and owls, the illustrations show vegetation appropriate to each environment. Displayed in squares and rectangles, they suggest looking through windows to the natural world outside. Although there are some odd proportions, the illustrations have a naturalistic feel and the information, though simple, is accurate. Beginning and ending with parallel scenes of a boy and girl flying a kite on a hillside, this should appeal to very young listeners curious about the natural world. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-7)