The Rain

With a style almost as peaceful and steadily rhythmic as the autumn shower he lauds, Laser (Children's Rules for Parents) conveys an infectious exultation in a sudden rainfall. ""The rain fell on the city, the town, and the forest,"" he begins, and introduces various characters who are rained upon: a commuter in a green raincoat, a teacher grading homework, two children playing in the woods and an old man who ""smile[s] up into the falling raindrops,"" reveling in the sensation. One by one, each character adopts the old man's celebratory mood, and in a surprise conclusion, all but the old man are revealed to be members of the same family. Greene's (Shadow Play) crisply lined and detailed pastels convey a sense of tranquil freshness in both the crowded city and the New England countryside. Their unpretentious realism provides a strong counterpoint to the misty topic, and the reverent calm of his rain-soaked subjects underscores Laser's message that pleasure can be found in the most ordinary occurrences. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)