ALA Booklist (Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

Gerald the elephant and his friend Piggie are outdoors and ready to play when a drop of rain falls "PLINK!" on Piggie's head. Watching her high-spirited mood dive precipitously through annoyance toward despair, Gerald extends an ear to shelter her. Soon, though, two ecstatic worms cavorting in the rain inspire them to find happiness in wet-weather play. The characters quickly shifting moods provide plenty of laughs, as well as food for thought, in this amiable entry in the Elephant and Piggie beginning-reader series. Willems again combines simplicity and wit to create a child-pleasing text that works beautifully with the cartoon-style illustrations.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Piggie is miserable when one drop of rain threatens his outside plans. Gerald, his elephant friend, tries to steady the mood, and two worms remind Piggie that rain doesn't mean the end of play. Young readers will enjoy acting out this newest drama, easily following the color-coded speech bubbles, laughing at the silly situations, and learning to look on the bright side.

School Library Journal (Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2008)

PreS-Gr 2 In a refreshing reversal of their usual roles, the often-despondent Gerald proves to be a valuable friend to exuberant Piggie when her own naturally sunny disposition fails her. Fretful about the sudden rain that threatens to ruin an afternoon of running, skipping, and jumping, Piggie declares emphatically that she is "not a happy pig." Poor Gerald patiently weathers the rain and her brief tantrum and, as readers might expect, the pair soon make the most of the situation. Alive with movement and feeling, the illustrations tell the story, setting the tone and adding depth to the simple text. The words themselves are manageable for young readers, and these endearing and distinctly developed characters have great child appeal. With a cameo appearance by the Pigeon on the final endpaper, this is a winning addition to the author's canon. Neala Arnold, St. Francis Elementary School, MN