Rain Before Rainbows
What’s inside...
In this heartfelt story about courage, change, and moving on, a girl and her companion fox travel together away from a sorrowful past, through challenging and stormy times, toward color and light and life. Along the way they find friends to guide and support them, and when the new day dawns, it is full of promise. With gorgeous, richly realized illustrations and immense hope at its heart, Rain Before Rainbows holds out a ray of sunshine for anyone looking for light.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the rain and the rainbow represent in the story?
How do you think the girl felt when she was walking through the dark woods?
Can you think of a time when you had to overcome something difficult and how you felt afterwards?
What do the animal friends teach us about the importance of having support from others?
How can we find hope and positivity even in challenging times?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own experience of overcoming a difficult challenge, to make it relatable.
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the story by using open-ended questions that require more than a yes or no answer.
Validate their feelings and thoughts as they discuss their views on the story’s themes, showing empathy and understanding.
Connect the story's messages to real-life situations or experiences your child may encounter, enhancing their ability to apply the story's lessons.
Highlight the moral of the story, focusing on optimism and resilience, to further instill these values in your child.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: The story portrays a young girl and her companion fox journeying through tough times, symbolizing the resilience needed to overcome obstacles.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of perseverance and not giving up when facing difficulties, which is crucial in tackling daily challenges or setbacks in school or social settings.
Example Lesson: Hope and Optimism
Explanation: Throughout the various challenges, the narrative emphasizes maintaining hope with the recurring theme of finding light amidst darkness, guided by the phrase 'rain before rainbows'.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children to remain hopeful and optimistic during tough times, a valuable outlook in nurturing mental and emotional well-being.
Example Lesson: Friendship and Support
Explanation: The protagonist is not alone but is accompanied by a fox, showcasing the value of having supportive friends during tough times.
Real-World Application: It encourages children to be supportive friends and seek out positive relationships, reinforcing the social skills necessary for team activities and collaborative projects.
Example Lesson: Courage to Embrace Change
Explanation: The journey through changing landscapes in the book mirrors the inevitable changes one must face in life, teaching the courage to accept and adapt.
Real-World Application: Children learn to embrace change positively, aiding their adaptability in moving to new environments or transitioning between different educational stages.
Example Lesson: The Beauty of Nature and New Beginnings
Explanation: The book concludes with a vibrant rainbow after a storm, symbolizing new beginnings and the constant beauty of nature even after hardships.
Real-World Application: This can help children appreciate the natural world and understand that after every problem, there can be a fresh start, fostering a sense of renewal and growth.