Laney Dances in the Rain - by Kenneth Willard (Hardcover)

About the Book

The vivid artwork in this wordless picture book tells the story of a little girl who loves to dance in the rain--no matter what anyone thinks.

Book Synopsis

The vivid artwork in this wordless picture book tells the story of a little girl who loves to dance in the rain--no matter what anyone thinks.

Laney loves to dance in the pouring rain. One day, she encounters a scowling boy who tries to ruin her fun outside. But with the support of her mom, Laney goes back to what she loves--even after the boy attempts to destroy her beautiful yellow raincoat. When Laney embraces her true self, she brings joy to herself and her neighbors.

Laney Dances in the Rain is a wordless picture book that allows young children to use their imagination to tell a story in their own words and their own way. Its empathy-building storyline about being true to oneself supports self-belief and self-expression even in the face of questioning or criticism. A special section for adults offers discussion questions to use in exploring the story with children.

Review Quotes

"Laney is a delight! This story of a child who dances to her own music--rain or shine--will resonate with anyone who's ever had to find the courage to be themselves, whatever others might say or think. The accessible wordless picture book format invites children to use their empathy and imagination to tell the tale in their own words."--Dr. Michele Borba, parenting and bullying-prevention expert, author of End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy; Thrivers; and Unselfie

About the Author

Ken Willard is a lifelong writer with degrees in sociology and communications. He loved visiting his local library as a child, and spent his after-school hours absorbed in the towering shelves of books. It was then he knew he would be a writer.

He is married and currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with his spouse, Atul Suradkar, and their pet cat, Tuxie.

Matthew Rivera earned his bachelor's degree in fine arts from the University of Arizona.

After many years of being an art director for corporations and toy makers, he now writes and draws pictures for a living. He lives in Portland, OR, where he loves listening to the rain tap on his rooftop, and is known to dance around in the occasional thunderstorm.