21 Best Books About Rain for Kids: Rainy Day Read Alouds

Best Books about Rain booklist featuring children's picture books arranged in columns including educational picture books, board books, and beloved rainy day picture books with a watercolor painted rainbow and colorful text.

Books About Rain for Kids. This book list is full of the best rainy-day reads with beautiful illustrations and stories to enjoy a stormy day inside or to inspire little readers to stomp in puddles. On the list, I have included educational reads, living books, and a few board books about rain for the tiniest of readers. Make sure to save to Pinterest for your next rainy day!

Enjoy a Rainy Day with a beautiful story from this list of Books About Rain For Kids!

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21 Books About Rain for Kids: Fun Stories, Educational Books, and Board Books for Rainy Days

Wholesome Stories About Rain

1. Singing in the Rain by Tim Hopgood

Kids with colorful rain boats, rain jackets, and umbrellas march across the sidewalk in the puddles while singing the song "Singing in the rain," a book on the best April picture books for kids booklist. — Singing in the Rain by Tim Hopgood

This book is perfect for the overcast skies and threat of rain that lingers in the springtime. The beloved song “Singing’ in the Rain” with brightly colored illustrations. May this song and picture book bring you to sing “what a glorious feeling.” Save this one for some rainy day fun.

2. Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco

A grandmother and her young grandchild point towards a rolling storm with concerns barn animals standing around them on the book cover of "Thunder Cake," a book on the picture books about cooking booklist. — Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco

In this precious book, a little girl hides under the bed as thunder rumbles and lighting cracks across the sky. Her grandmother gently coaxes her out with a hug, encouragement, and a mission. The little girl and her grandmother go on a mission to gather the ingredients for a thunder cake, which includes brave feats. This is one of my favorites among this rainy-day collection of books.

3. Blue on Blue by Dianne White

Gray storm clouds roll over a blue house by the blue sea while a little girl jumps rope on the children's picture book "Blue on Blue," a book on the Best April Picture books for kids booklist. — Blue on Blue by Dianne White

This is a sweet poetic picture book about the experience of a rainstorm by the seaside from the wild wind to the messy mud when the sun returns. It’s a treasure of a book.

4. Watersong by Tim McCanna

A red fox peeks from behind a tree as a storm brews in the clouds on the children's book cover "Watersong," a book on the Best Spring Read Aloud Books for Kindergarten Booklist. — Watersong by Tim McCanna

In this rainy day story, the narrative unfolds with the sounds of water as a storm intensifies. Amidst the gathering storm, a red fox seeks shelter, navigating through the rainstorm. The narrative is charmingly portrayed using playful onomatopoeia with lovely illustrations. Add this one to the top of your rain books!

5. Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse

A young African-American girl wearing a dress and rain boats with a yellow umbrella holds out her hand to catch a raindrop on the children's book "Come On, Rain!" — Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse

The great story is perfect for the “dog days” of summer. Everyone is longing for rain. A young girl and her friends spot rain clouds in the distance and put on their swimsuits to celebrate the rain and dance in the streets.

6. Rain School by James Rumford

A group of African school kids run in the rain holding their school books on the front of the book "Rain School," a book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — Rain School by James Rumford

“We will build our school,” she says. “This is our first lesson.” In Chad, Africa, children eagerly start their first day of school only to find no classroom waiting for them. Together with their classmates, they diligently construct the school using mud bricks, walls, and desks. After completing the school, they begin their lessons. However, when the rainy season arrives at the end of the school year, the school will be washed away, and the next group of students will come together to rebuild it once more.

7. Worm Weather by Jean Taft

A little girl and a little boy run through the grass on a stormy day with leaves falling down and worms crawling underground on the children's book cover "Worm Weather," a book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — Worm Weather by Jean Taft

This simple book features short rhyming phrases ideal for young children. The straightforward text invites kids to participate in rainy-day activities such as splashing in puddles and observing thunder, lightning, raindrops, sunshine, rainbows, and worms.

“Drip, Drop, skip and hop. Splish, splash, sidewalk dash! It’s worm weather!”

8. Raindrops to Rainbow by John Micklos Jr.

A little girl holds an umbrella while walking with her dog with the background divided between a rainstorm and a rainbow on the front of the book "Raindrops to Rainbow," a book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — Raindrops to Rainbow by John Micklos Jr.

This is a precious picture book with lively illustrations about a little girl on a gloomy, rainy day. She dreams of clear blue skies and a bright yellow sun, but outside is gray with streaks of white lighting. Although it’s gloomy weather, her mom and Brown Bear are near to cheer her up. As clouds start clearing, she sees a…“Beaming rainbow, bold and bright, brilliant colors, what a sight!”

“I don’t mind rain because I know without raindrops, there’s no rainbow.”

9. Rain by Cynthia Rylant

A little girl with bright rain boots stomps in a rain puddle with her dog on the children's picture book cover "Rain" by Cynthia Rylant, a book on the best books about Rain for Kids booklist. — Rain by Cynthia Rylant

In this great book about rain filled with colorful illustrations, the children hurry home as the clouds gather. The animals already know that the rain is coming. The squirrels head to their nests, the cats hunt for cozy corners inside, and the dogs eagerly anticipate the first raindrops on their noses.

“There is a softness and a quiet before the rain comes.”

10. Sometimes Rain by Meg Fleming

Kids race down a grassy hill after their dog on a rainy day on the children's book cover "Sometimes Rain," a book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — Sometimes Rain by Meg Fleming

This picture book is a fun way to celebrate the four seasons and the change that each season brings.

“Sometimes drizzle. Drip-drop drain. Sometimes picnic. Sometimes Rain.”

11. The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson

A beautiful array of colorful flowers and plants borders the book "The Hidden Rainbow" by Christie Matheson, an interactive book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson

“One little bee peeks out on a world of gray and snow.
She’s looking for bright colors and needs you to help them grow.”

This charmingly illustrated picture book reveals all the colors of the rainbow in the garden, inviting readers to interact by brushing off the camellia tree and tickling the tulips. This is one of our favorite books for spring time and the little bee even needs to escape a rain shower. This book is so much fun to read to little learners.

12. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

A man wearing a checkered yellow-green blazer and carrying an umbrella tries to catch a meatball on a his dinner plate on the book cover of "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs," an old children's book. — Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

The tiny town of Chewandswallow is unique in its weather forecast. It rained meals three times a day, and the townspeople enjoyed it until the weather got out of hand.

13. Willow and Bunny by Anitra Rowe Schulte

A little bunny looks up at a tall and beautiful willow tree on the book cover "Willow and Bunny," a book featured on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — Willow and Bunny by Anitra Rowe Schulte

This is a beautifully illustrated book about friendship and community after the destruction by a storm. One day a storm rages and Willow shields and protects her woodland friends with all her might. When the storm calms, Willow is tattered and twisted, but her woodland friends rally around her.

14. The Cat and the Hat by Dr. Seuss

The cat in the hat, wearing his classic red and white striped top hat, looks happy and satisfied on the cover of Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat." — The Cat and the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Sally and her brother gaze out of their window on a chilly, rainy day when a mischievous cat in a striped hat, accompanied by his pals Thing 1 and Thing 2, appear. This storybook offers a delightful method to show your children how to turn a dull day into an unforgettable one.

15. Float by Daniel Miyares

A little boy dressed in a yellow raincoat, rain hat, and yellow rubber boats sails his paper boat across a puddle in the city on the book cover of "Float," a book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — Float by Daniel Miyares

This wordless picture book tells the story of a young boy and his paper boat on a rainy day.

16. Water is Water by Miranda Paul

On a bright sunny day, two kids and a black cat are standing on the dock of the pond, pointing into the river. — Water is Water by Miranda Paul

This picture book follows the different phases of the water cycle in simple lyrical language and beautiful illustrations. This is a perfect introduction to the various forms of water.

Educational Stories About Rain

17. The Cloud Book by Tomie de Paola

A man in a red suit and black top hat is holding a telescope and standing by three white, fluffy creatures. — The Cloud Book by Tomie de Paola

This is an educational book about clouds including an introduction to the types of clouds and some myths and legends about clouds. This might interest older kids. I love teaching my kids to cloud watch and let the shapes of clouds spark their imaginations.

18. It’s Raining by Gail Gibbons

A group of women huddle together with their umberellas on a rainy dag in a blooming garden on the educational book cover "It's Raining!" by Gail Gibbons, a book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — It’s Raining by Gail Gibbons

This educational picture book explores rain through a child’s eyes. She guides the readers through various aspects of a storm, starting from tiny raindrops to the booming sounds of thunder, while providing advice on staying dry and safe. As always Gail Gibbons provides straightforward facts and easy-to-understand definitions. This was a good book to introduce my preschoolers to interesting facts about rain and spur some curiosity about the weather.

Board Books About Rain for Little Ones

19. When You See a Rainbow by Becki Dudley

A little girl rests on her elbows in the grass staring at yellow wildflowers with a rainbow in the background on the book cover of "When you see a rainbow," a book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — When You See a Rainbow by Becki Dudley

This sweet board book explains the true meaning and history of the rainbow, the symbol of God’s promise to Noah and the world after the Flood. Whenever we spot a rainbow in the sky, it serves as a reminder of God’s promise!

20. Why Does it Rain? by Eric Carle

Rain clouds huddle over a rocking sea with the famous and beloved The Very Hungry Caterpillar featured on the book cover of "Why Does it Rain?" A book by Eric Carle on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — Why Does it Rain? by Eric Carle

This board book is a simple introduction to the rain cycle for young readers.

21. Little Cloud by Eric Carle

A little fluffy white cloud with a smile floats in a bright blue sky on the book cover of "Little Cloud" by Eric Carle, a book on the best books about rain for kids booklist. — Little Cloud by Eric Carle

The beloved author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle tells a story of a fluffy little cloud that trails behind the others. The Little Cloud loves to change into fun shapes and eventually joins the others to produce a rainstorm.

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More Booklists Coming Soon!

Thanks for Stopping By!

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HAPPY READING!