Raindrops
As the rain starts to fall, Mouse sets out to find their way home during the storm. The reader is rooting for Mouse from the moment they set off on their adventure, carefully wrapped gift clutched firmly in hand.
Words are used sparingly, sometimes gently rhyming. The story begins with the narrator’s voice, at times subtly switching to the point-of-view of Mouse and finally to Little Mouse. There is lots of movement as we progress through the story; raindrops turning to downpour and stormy seas. There are several stunning splash pages with lots of details to spot and chat more about.
The illustrations shine throughout, detailing all Mouse’s emotions with beautiful attention to detail. Reminiscent of animation, Mouse’s story spreads across each page with the artwork creating superb visual pacing and the clever placing and sizing of the text adds further to this. The scale of Mouse in their surroundings is also used to great effect, especially in the dramatic and dynamic illustrations of the sea, showing us the peril our little hero is in. The clever use of tone and colours set the mood from the dark and menacing sea to warm and brighter colours when Mouse’s home is in sight.
Readers of all ages will love this charming picturebook which, from the first captivating illustration of Mouse, draws us straight in, lending itself to be read-aloud and shared. This is a comforting and heartwarming book – the perfect gift to share with someone special in your life.
