Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain (Reading Rainbow Books) [Paperback]

Verna Aardema (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 20, 1992 | Series: Reading Rainbow Books

The story of how Ki-pat ingeniously brings rain to the arid Kapiti Plain. "Cumulative rhyming tale with the rhythm and repetition of The House That Jack Built . . . Illustrations are stylized, simple, and dramatic."--School Library Journal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (May 20, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780140546163
• ISBN-13: 978-0140546163
• ASIN: 0140546162
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 0.2 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > History > Africa

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wide-Eyed Suspense March 20, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I really love the book "Bringing The Rain to Kapiti Plain," by Verna Aardema. I have enjoyed it so much that I am planning to give it as a gift to my sister who has two young children, ages 4 and 7. This is a simple story about a cattle herdsman and his wish for rain on the African plain. The narrative structure of the story is based on a sequence of events that builds suspense and interest in children until the end of the story. This is a memorable story; it is very simple to understand and has a powerful musical quality that, as a young adult, I enjoy reading aloud. The rhymes and rhythms are so strong that all young children will be wide eyed with suspense and interest until the very end of the story. I particularly enjoyed one line where the author rhymes "fat" and "Ki-pat": "So the grass grew green/ And the cattle fat!/ And Ki-pat got a wife/ And a little Ki-pat-." This story is suitable for young children because its tone is happy. It deals with the relationship of humans with water, plants and animals. Scientifically, it is unconceivable, but 4- to 8-year-old children do not have to understand the facts of science. From this book, however, they will learn about the connection between humans and nature by enjoying the colored pictures. The pictures are so vibrant that it is easy to imagine the world of Ki-pat. As an adult, I enjoy this book because it describes the cycle of life in a very interesting way. Readers of all ages will see that human life is totally dependent upon nature, and the existence of human beings without nature is nearly impossible. Readers will also learn how the lives of humans and animals are dependent on rain; people and animals need each other and every part of nature for their perfect existence.... I highly recommend Verna Aardema's "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain" to anyone who has young children and is looking for a book that illustrates the relationship between nature and human beings. The colorful, detailed pictures will keep the children interested while they are learning about the connection between nature and human beings. Read more ›

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A soothing tale that builds with each verse October 30, 2000

By H. Quinn

Format:Paperback

The PBS show "Reading Rainbow" featured this book; James Earl Jones read it; I fell in love with it and have been giving it as a gift to friends ever since. The gentle story unfolds line by line, with a tender rhythm that entrances: "These are the cows, all hungry and dry, Who mooed for the rain to fall from the sky..." Ultimately Ki-pat, who's watching his herd, brings rain to Kapiti Plain by launching an arrow into the sky. But the charm is in the telling. My 11-year-old still obliges me and lets me read it to him every once in a while.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Response! September 20, 2005

By A Reader

Format:Paperback

I bought this book after having it recommended while taking a graduate level children's literature class. I was not disappointed! I grabbed this book to read aloud if I had extra time while substitute teaching for a kindergarten class. I thought the children would be more attracted to the rhyme and pattern of the words so imagine my surprise when the book sparked a lengthy discussion between 5 year olds about drought, Africa, animals, and culture! It prompted questions that I didn't even know they were capable of asking and had them making connections to weather in our own backyard and stories they heard on the news. This book is a reading, social studies, and science lesson in one!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Parents: Excellent sequencing skills for children grades K-4 October 16, 1999

By Renee Jones ([e-mail])

Format:Paperback

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain reinforces a skill so important in Reading-sequencing of events. Sequencing of events aids in comprehension, another important skill in Reading. This story is the most fun when you buy the tape with narration by James Earl Jones.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book :) January 31, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I was just looking for it today (unsuccessfully), even though I'm thirteen. I love looking back on all those picture/rhyme books, and this has to be one of my favorites. It's one of those books that is meant to be read aloud! The words roll off your tounge. The pictures are rather amusing, too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a beautiful, rhythmic story about the end of a drought December 16, 1998

By [e-mail]

Format:Hardcover

This memorable story has a strong, musical quality that children and adults will enjoy hearing read out loud. The rhymes and rhythm are strong enough that the listener can anticipate the words and be a "reader" simply by listening to the music of this story. It also touches on the relationship between water, plants, animals and humans without being self-conciously scientific. This is a beautiful book that I've read out loud to a classoom of four year olds and a classoom of eight year olds - it engaged them all.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nicely Illustrated Retelling of a Traditional Folktale April 20, 2009

By Shanna A. Gonzalez

Format:Paperback

A very nicely illustrated retelling of a traditional Kenyan folktale, altered to fit the British style of cumulative nursery rhymes, reminiscent of "The House that Jack Built." The illustrations are evocative of African artwork, and unlike many children's books that tell folktales, this one omits the near-obligatory animism and spiritism that permeates tribal cultures. However, it also doesn't have the literary form of most traditional tales. The tale of a shepherd shooting a hole in the clouds to water his herd is lighthearted in its delivery, but it also conveys on a child's level the trouble that dry seasons can bring to a subsistence agrarian community. This is good for children who grew up in a wealthy industrialized society where clean water is available at the turn of the tap. Stories like this one may begin to open their understanding to the fact that other people do not have access to the resources they take for granted.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rythmic Tale That Captures Childrens Hearts And Minds August 30, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book in flowing poetry describes the cycle of life in an unusual way. It captures the
attention of children of all ages and holds it until
the very end. People of all ages will learn how
the rain keeps the cycles of life gowing and how
we depend on it for more than we know.
The colorful illistrations depict the story beautifully and in great detail. Extremely reasonably priced for a book of such continued
enjoyment