Home in the Rain

K-Gr 2--Little Francie and her pregnant mom are making their way home from Grandma's house through an epic downpour. Stuck in traffic on the highway, they wind up at a picnic area and wait out the worst of the storm in their cozy red car. As they snack, they discuss what to call Francie's future baby sister, but nothing seems quite right. Resuming their journey, they drive to a gas station, where Francie's mom has an unexpected epiphany and decides that the new baby's name will be Grace. They share this joyful moment and are on their way again, the rain now over and "sun cover[ing] the countryside--far off and away from Grandma's place to home and out across the sea." The recto shows mom and Francie happily reunited with Francie's dad. Interspersed throughout the story like jazz riffs are smaller observations of concurrent rain happenings. A field mouse hides from a kestrel, fishermen shiver by the canal, two men argue on the side of the road after an accident, all illustrated in Graham's signature ink and watercolor washes in gentle, muted colors. Graham works his magic yet again. VERDICT A lyrical and charming tale from an author who specializes in showing the extraordinary in the most ordinary, everyday moments. Perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.--Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

[Grace is] a name befitting the quiet solemnity of a story that highlights the everyday wonders of human experience, lovingly depicted in Graham's characteristically humorous, soft ink-and-watercolor illustrations. Amazing.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Somehow, in typical Graham fashion, all the stories matter, and they all build to a moment that Francie "would remember forever..".The message is clear (see also the John Updike quote on the dedication page) but delivered without sentimentality; and the happy ending—a field mouse safe in its burrow; a hot bath for Marcus; a surprise reunion for Francie and her mom; and sunshine for all—feels absolutely right.
—The Horn Book (starred review)

The line and watercolor art has Graham's familiar casual delicacy, with the precise geometry of trucks, road, and slanting rain contrasting with the dishevelment of the car interior, the curly dark blur of Francie's hair, and her bottoms-up wiggle into the backseat. Viewers will adore the seek-and-find puzzle of matching textual mention to illustrative detail.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

Graham works his magic yet again. A lyrical and charming tale from an author who specializes in showing the extraordinary in the most ordinary, everyday moments. Perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.
—School Library Journal

Memorable, expressive characters (Graham has, for decades now, created characters rich in diversity, well before it was a Twitter hashtag); a story that makes you think and have all the many feels; and warm, detailed illustrations: this book has it all.
—Kirkus Reviews (blog)

Family love, human connection, the natural world, the gift of rain and the gift of grace to be found in quiet moments are all part of this simple, lovely book from an award-winning Australian author-illustrator.
—Buffalo News