LET’S COUNT THE RAINDROPS

An unusual art technique involving acrylics applied with dry brushes to a surface prepared with sponge rollers gives this delightful collection of weather poems a distinctive look. Ten poems by writers ranging from Christina Rossetti to Margaret Wise Brown and Douglas Florian are linked by Kosaka’s sprightly doll-like little girl with straight cut hair, a red dress, and a triangle nose, who is accompanied by an equally charming dog. The two dance across the pages in various weathers and seasons, blowing in the wind, seeing sheep in the clouds, and counting the raindrops with gleeful frogs. Each page is a delight, and each small poem a winner in this collection that will appeal to young children and their caregivers no matter what the weather. (Poetry/picture book. 3-7)