Downpour - by Yuko Ohnari (Hardcover)

About the Book

As the rain pours down, making all kinds of sounds, a little boy encourages the droplets to play with him.

Book Synopsis

● A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year!
★ "Spreads and text voice the energy and joy of perceiving a storm as a part of the world that's very much alive." Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "A joyful and refreshing multisensory experience." The Horn Book, starred review
● A 2026 USBBY Outstanding International Book
● A 2026 ALSC Notable Children's Book
● A 2026 Capitol Choices Book

A young boy celebrates a refreshing storm in this joyous picture book about experiencing with all your senses a cloudburst of rain on a hot summer day.

A boy looks up at the sky and smells the air as the first raindrops hit the ground. He listens as it begins to pour, observing all the symphony of sound this welcome downpour makes.

He feels the water droplets on his skin and sees little rivulets of water on the sidewalk. "Badadada" he hears as the rain hits his yellow umbrella, "Ker-sploosh" as he jumps in a puddle.

This boy uses all his senses to experience a refreshing summer storm. Koshiro Hata's illustrations revel in the joy of nature in Yuko Ohnari's new book featuring expressive onomatopoeia to sound out and enjoy. You'll definitely want to play outside the next time it rains.

Perfect for units on weather and senses--but also just a sweet and happy picture book to enjoy together.

Review Quotes

● A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year!

-- (10/24/2025 12:00:00 AM)

● A 2026 Capitol Choices Book
Evanston Public Library Great Books for Kids 2025

-- (10/29/2025 12:00:00 AM)

A 2026 Notable Children's Book

-- "Association of Library Service to Children (ALA/ALSC)" (1/26/2026 12:00:00 AM)

An Outstanding International Book of 2026

-- "United States Board on Books for Young People" (1/16/2026 12:00:00 AM)

"Carefree joy is vividly expressed in the illustrations, and once again, onomatopoeia comes into play. . . As the drops begin and the rain falls harder and harder, onomatopeia is used to describe the scene. English language sound words are not nearly as plentiful or descriptive as Japanese, but translator Emily Balestrieri steps up to the plate to use the few such words we have and make up a whole bunch more, all of which will make perfect sense to young readers. To add to the impact, the publisher has put sound words in bold yellow lettering, which contrasts well with the illustrations of rain scenes, and formatted to make the words part of the illustration. In a delightful touch, the endpapers feature the title in Japanese. A word of warning: any child who reads DOWNPOUR will surely insist on reenacting the story when the opportunity arises."

-- "Global Literature in Libraries" (9/1/2026 12:00:00 AM)

★ "Ohnari and Hata tell the story of a young person's encounter with a summer rainstorm. One scorching day, "the ground's burning hot," the sun casting brilliant light and sharp shadows as thunderclouds roll in. The rain begins ("BADA-BADA-BADA. PLIP. PLIP. BADA"), dripping on the child's big yellow umbrella. "My umbrella's a drum!" the East Asian-cued protagonist exclaims as text renders enthusiastic onomatopoeia in bright yellow type whose size conveys volume. The rain becomes a downpour, and the sounds intensify. "There are so many sounds. The rain is singing!" the child says. A new spread shows the action amid insect-covered greenery in which the raindrops become size-distorting lenses. Water splashes up as the figure relinquishes the umbrella, jumping in puddles and raising their face to the deluge. Soon, the shower is over, and the child finds a way to re-create the event indoors. Spreads and text voice the energy and joy of perceiving a storm as a part of the world that's very much alive: "Everything's sopping wet. But sopping wet feels good." starred review-- "Publishers Weekly" (1/2/2025 12:00:00 AM)

★ "Vivid illustrations and enthusiastic prose evoke the suprise and awe of a summer rainstorm. . . The rain's gentle "Plip! Plip! Plip!" builds into a frantic percussion, the onomatopoeic sounds spelled out in bright yellow text against the darkening sky. . . A joyful and and refreshing multisensory experience." starred review-- "The Horn Book Magazine" (5/1/2025 12:00:00 AM)

"An onomatopoeic account of the joys of a sudden summer rain . . . A delightful, sensory-rich appreciation of a childhood pleasure."-- "Kirkus Reviews" (11/23/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"This one stands out for its varied visual perspectives, fun-to-say onomatopoeia, and general liveliness. Perfect for waiting out a summer thunderstorm and ker-splashing in the puddles."-- "Horn Book 2025 Summer Reading List" (4/30/2025 12:00:00 AM)

It's rare that a book can capture all five senses so intensely. A joy to read aloud, this book follows a young boy as a rainstorm commences. His senses open and blossom in the pouring rain, . . . It's filled with plips, plops, splooshes, and pleks, all of which work together to create a raucous verbal symphony. The story and artwork entice young readers to perceive the rain as an invitation to engage the natural world as one would engage with a companion, and to let loose one's own innate sense of playfulness. The artwork truly gushes happiness. Joy is expressed not only in the child's character, but in the rain and water itself. Scenes in which the character is immersed in intense, falling rain are the most evocative. Young readers are going to want to play in the rain--well beyond puddle-hopping, this book embraces and centers nature in our lives. VERDICT Lots of fun! Readers and educators will never look at rain in quite the same way again. Highly ­recommended.
-- "School Library Journal" (5/1/2025 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Koshiro Hata and Yuko Ohnari are a husband-and-wife creative team behind several picture books published in Japan. Hata also works as a manga artist and writes essays and children's songs. They were both born in Osaka but now live in Tokyo. Emily Balistieri is an award-winning translator of children's books living and working in Tokyo, Japan.