Book Nook: Rain Talk

As I was rocking Emmy before bedtime, I heard the unmistakable whoosh of cars driving in the rain. And as I sat down at my computer, the gurgle of rain tumbling down the gutters filled my ears. We begged spring to come; and with spring comes the rain.

Last Saturday was very warm and all our snow started to melt. Ed decided to take the girls outside to splash in the puddles while I finished getting ready for the company we were having. Emmy loves water: “wah-ee”, and Lily loves her rain boots! (I love stating the obvious, much to Ed’s chagrin, as you’ll see in my video clip. There’s also a glare from the snow; the only thing I remember from my college meteorology class is the term “albedo.“) Even though it wasn’t raining, I caught the girls playing in the water just as the little girl in the book Rain Talk plays in the warm summer rain.

Splashing in Puddles from Ginny Marie on Vimeo.
Rain Talk
Rain Talk by Mary Serfozo
rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rain Talk is a beautiful book, in both words and pictures. When I was a first year teacher, I was surprised at how few picture books were in my first classroom. Throughout the years, I bought many books to add to my collection. A few of those books were read by my students, but remained unread by me. My book collection came home with me as I paused my teaching career to raise my daughters. I recently read Rain Talk to my youngest. As I was reading, I was delighted at the simple story about a girl out in the rain, listening to all the sounds rain has. The sound of rain beginning is quite different from the sound of rain hitting a pond, or the “Bup Bup” of rain on an umbrella. The watercolors by Keiko Narahashi enchanted me. They fit the words perfectly. See the drops of rain hitting the dirt, and the small worm poking his head out?

Each little drop digs a dark little hole and the smell of wet dust tickles my nose.

I love this illustration of the dog shaking his coat:What a cute book to read on a rainy day, or any day!

Book Nook: A Cuppa

Molly, my sister, and I fell out,
And what do you think it was all about?
She loved coffee and I loved tea,
And that was the reason we couldn’t agree.

Traditional nursery rhyme

One of my sisters loves coffee; the other prefers Coke. Myself? I love my java in the morning. But the afternoon is right for tea. February afternoons, with the southern sun slanting in through the windows with the promise of spring, is the perfect time for tea. I love curling my chilly fingers around a warm mug. Reading novels written by British authors always seem to make me want a nice, steaming cuppa tea. Our neighbor always offers to make us tea after we eat dinner together. Go ahead; put the kettle on!

When I was pregnant with Emmy, I was concerned about the effects of herbal teas. Some herbs can cause contractions, and I wanted to avoid anything that might have been harmful to Roo (our name for Emmy before she was born.) I went to a tea shop in the mall close to us, and asked for advice. The woman there started looking through her tea book for a safe herbal tea, and together we found rooibos, a tea that comes from Africa. It is also called red tea, or bush tea. Perfect! Every time I drink this tea, I’m reminded of Mma Ramotswe, the detective in one of my favorite mystery series.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 1) The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mma Ramotswe adored her late father. Mma Ramotswe knows cattle. Mma Ramotswe is of traditional build. Mma Ramotswe drinks bush tea. Mma Ramotswe solves mysteries brought to her detective agency in a way that coheres with her sensibilities. I fell in love with Mma Ramotswe, her prickly secretary, Mma Makutsi, and her good-hearted friend, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Alexander McCall Smith brings Botswana to life, making this a warm read on a cold winter afternoon.