ISBN 0671660055 - There are some books, especially among children's books, that you just know you're going to like. It's an attractive cover, the feel of the book in your hands, it's something - and you don't always know WHAT it is, but you always know that you're going to LIKE this book. That's what I was thinking when I picked up It Chanced to Rain.

Told in rhyme, three Rats, three Ducks, three Dogs and three Cats all go out for a walk with... two young Pigs. (I don't know why two pigs when there's three of everyone else) The day takes a turn when it suddenly begins to rain and the whole lot of animals runs for home. Once there, they all dry off and have soup, prepared by the first Pig. As they sit down to eat, they notice that the Ducks aren't there and, leaving the Rats behind to answer the phone, they rush off to search for their friends. They fear the worst when they see the Ducks' hats floating in the river, but it turns out the Ducks just like the rain. The Dogs, Cats and Rats end up with colds and the Pigs punish the Ducks for making everyone worry.

What a great rhyme! The text, by Kathleen Bullock, is just perfect. Silly and fun, it will engage every child. A few comments in parentheses ("(They must have been drenched!)") fall outside the rhyming pattern but add a cheeky touch, rather than detract from the story. There's no illustrator listed, so I assume that Bullock might have done double duty on this and, if so, she did a great job in both regards. The tree branches during the storm actually appear to be flying in the wind; the details are great and the images add nicely to the story. A great time-killing, rainy-day read that you'll enjoy reading to your child.

- AnnaLovesBooks ( )