A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 337

Picture Book: What Makes a Rainbow?

Author: Betty Ann Schwartz

Illustrator: Dona Turner

Summary: After a rainstorm, Little Rabbit’s mother says that soon they will see a rainbow. Little Rabbit asks the title question, and a series of animals help his mother explain. This is a Magic Ribbon Book which means that as you turn the page, a ribbon of a particular color drapes across the double page spread. In this case, ribbons of the colors of the rainbow are revealed each page turn. The book ends with Little Rabbit declaring the 3 things needed for a rainbow: rain, colors, and sunshine.

Hanna’s Comments: If this book is too immature for your audience, you’ll find lots of books about rainbows in the library some of which will emphasize the science behind the phenomenon which is always a nice addition to a lesson for children. You might want to teach the children in your audience the song, I Can Sing a Rainbow which is available on ITunes. This author and illustrator have another Magic Ribbon Book which you may want to consider. It’s called What Makes Music?

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Piggy Toes Press, 2000

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2 and up, Toddler and up

# of Pages: 14 

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present, but you’ll find plenty of videos on Youtube.com on how a rainbow is made or describing how to do a science experiment about rainbows or light refraction. 

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, attentiveness/observation/seeing, awe, beauty, covenant/promises/vows, the environment/nature, God’s presence, heaven/sky, light/morning, rain, rainbows, water, wonder

Scripture Connections: God said this is the sign of the covenant between me and you… I have set my bow in the cloud…. (Genesis 9:12-13) 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about signs of God’s covenant or the story of Noah and the Ark.