Rain Before Rainbows

In the midst of the rain,

Rainbows can be hard to see.

Leaving a dark castle behind them, a little girl and her fox friend set off together in the pouring rain on a long and perilous journey, facing many challenges and dangers. Finally, they arrive in a new land where they are surrounded by many animals who are there to support and guide them as they gradually rebuild their world.

Told in rhyme, this beautiful book offers hope for the future. Although it obviously holds great significance with the current situation, this is a book which will last the test of time as it carries such a powerful message: there is always hope for the future. One of nature’s special beauties, the rainbow is a powerful symbol of hope in many cultures, offering a shared understanding of the joy that can follow despair. Smriti Halls’ text conveys this perfectly, reminding us that we experience joy all the more keenly for having known sorrow.

The illustrations are pure David Litchfield joy! Glowing with colour, each spread is rich in detail to explore and discuss. I don’t know whether it’s just me, but the spreads seem to be tinged with the colours of the rainbow as the story moves from the girl and her fox (red clothes and fur against the dark) to the indigo edged waves of the sea and then again from their arrival on new shores to happily dancing beneath the rainbow at the end. Wonderful for inspiring art work, the whole book is a thing of great beauty, perfect for sharing again and again.

‘Rain Before Rainbows’ is a stunning book offering much needed comfort and hope.

Rain Before Rainbows Smriti Halls, illustrated by David Litchfield

Walker ISBN: 978-1406382358