Rain Song

Evans makes a cheery picture book debut with this rhyming, rhythmic celebration of rain. Two girls are splashing in a tiny backyard pool when they notice signs of an approaching storm: ``Falls a raindrop/ it goes plip plop/ coming faster/ drip drop, drip drop/ pitter pit pat/ splitter split splat/.../ safe inside, we'll watch the rain.'' Reminiscent of John Archambault and Bill Martin Jr.'s spirited verses, Evans's poem never falters nor loses its tone of playful insouciance. Jabar's trademark smiley-face illustrations pack plenty of action as the girls huddle inside watching the rain, then enter into the spirit of the storm by beating sandbox-bucket ``drums'' to the rhythm of the rain. When the danger passes, they run outside in their yellow slickers and ``red galoshes/ squishy squashes.'' This zesty description of a romping, stomping storm will make a rainy day seem like a pleasure. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)