Best Children’s Books about Rain (2026): 5 Compared

Rainy days call for good books, and the best children’s books about rain turn storms into stories. We compared five books by rain fit, publisher and reading age, using only what each Amazon listing states. Every figure below comes from the listings, not from our own reading.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Rain Before Rainbows	9.8/10	Buy
2	The Big Umbrella	9.7/10	Buy
3	Soaked!	9.7/10	Buy
4	Singing in the Rain	9.6/10	Buy
5	Nature Stories: Little Raindrop	9.6/10	Buy

1

Rain Before Rainbows

Smriti Prasadam-Halls·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rain picture book, 32 pages, reading age 3 to 7 years, published October 6, 2020.

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Pros

• 32 pages; Candlewick
• 2020 edition; illustrated
• Reading age 3 to 7 years, from customers

Cons

• Sales claims in the description are the publisher's
• Storm themes; heavy for some
• 32 pages; short

2

The Big Umbrella

Amy June Bates·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rain picture book, 40 pages, reading age 3 to 7 years, published February 6, 2018.

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Pros

• 40 pages; Beach Lane
• 2018 edition; illustrated
• Reading age 3 to 7 years, from customers

Cons

• Inclusion themes; heavy for some
• 2018; older
• 40 pages

3

Soaked!

Abi Cushman·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rain picture book, 40 pages, reading age 2 to 6 years, published July 14, 2020.

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Pros

• 40 pages; Viking
• 2020 edition; illustrated
• Reading age 2 to 6 years, from customers

Cons

• Grumpy bear; some kids object
• 2020 edition
• 40 pages

4

Singing in the Rain

Tim Hopgood·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rain picture book, 32 pages, reading age 2 to 4 years, published October 17, 2017.

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Pros

• 32 pages; Henry Holt
• 2017 edition
• Reading age 2 to 4 years, from customers

Cons

• 2017; older
• Lyrics; thin plot
• 32 pages; short

5

Nature Stories: Little Raindrop

IglooBooks·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rain board book, 24 pages, reading age 1 to 3 years, published December 13, 2022.

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Pros

• 24 pages; Igloo Books
• 2022 edition; board book
• Reading age 1 to 3 years, from customers

Cons

• 24 pages; very short
• Board book; thin
• STEM; light on story

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• The Little RaindropSuits readers wanting water cycle stories, 32 pages.Check on Amazon
• Rain!Suits readers wanting a board book, 30 pages.Check on Amazon
• Little Wonders WeatherSuits readers wanting weather facts, 10 pages.Check on Amazon
• In the RainSuits readers wanting toddler stories, 22 pages.Check on Amazon
• Why Does It Rain?Suits readers wanting Eric Carle, 10 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specs as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs rain fit, publisher, value and reading guidance. All five listings state a reading age from customers. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books about rain

Age fit

Reading ages run from 1 to 3 (Raindrop) to 3 to 7 (Rainbows, Umbrella). Browse picture books for more.

Story or fact

Four are stories; Little Raindrop teaches the water cycle. Our weather books list covers more.

Length

Page counts run from 24 (Raindrop) to 40 (Umbrella, Soaked).

Before you buy

• Check the reading age.
• Compare the 24 to 40 page counts.
• Sales claims in the descriptions are the publisher’s; treat as marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is a board book?

Nature Stories: Little Raindrop.

Which is about a storm?

Rain Before Rainbows.

Which is about an umbrella?

The Big Umbrella.

Which is the longest?

The Big Umbrella and Soaked!, at 40 pages.

Still deciding? Our top pickRain Before Rainbows

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Related lists

See every picture book list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: weather books, snow books and spring books.