With our April showers, we're looking forward to some May flowers. But why wait on flowers to enjoy the many joys of the outdoors through some puddle play?

Even if you cannot go out and splash in a big puddle, you can use your imagination with the help of  some great stories. Though our library services are still closed, you can explore our digital resources for a great storytime-at-home.

Hoopla is now offering six free titles per card through May 31st! Through this great digital resource you'll find several titles to explore puddle and rain fun, including Rain! by Linda Ashman, Puddle Jumpers by Anne Margaret Lewis, and Olga the Cloud and the Puddle by Nicoletta Costa.

If you're looking for a bilingual title for very young children, how about What Can I Do When It Rains? / ¿Qué Puedo Hacer Cuando Llueve? Or if you would like a book you can sing along with to introduce a traditional children's folk song, you can find It's Raining, It's Pouring by Kin Eagle.

When you're weary of the rain and it's time to see some sunshine, share a read-along book, Rain, Rain, Go Away, together with Winken, Blinken, and Nod, and One, Two, Buckle My Shoe. 

Don't forget the Bonus Borrows through Hoopla! You can find both Music Bonus Borrows and Movie Bonus Borrows titles that do not go against your maximum six titles per month.

There are a few books you can find in Libby by Overdrive on our subject this week, such as the audiobook, The Rain Came Down by David Shannon, and eBooks I Love the Rain by Margaret Park Bridges, and another great sing-along book, Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera. 

Don't forget everyone's favorite, Winnie the Pooh and his exciting adventures with the rain. You hear the story about Pooh and sing along on YouTube! 

Finally, here are some songs, finger plays, and rhymes you can use to imagine a day of play in the rain while building rhythm, counting, and music skills.  

Five Little Raindrops 

Five little raindrops (hold up five fingers)
Dancing on the walk (dance hand up and down)
Pitter patter, pitter patter, that’s the way they talk. (pat legs)
Out comes the yellow sun, shining in the sky (raise arms up like the sun)
And away goes one raindrop (hold up one finger)
Bye, bye, bye! (wave goodbye)

Rain Song 

First a little drop of rain hit the ground, tap, tap. [Tap your fingers]
Then another drop of rain hit the ground, tap, tap. [Tap your fingers]
Then another and another and another and another,
And pretty soon we heard a different sound, Splash!! [Clap hands]

Rain is Falling Down (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

Rain is falling down. Splash! (clap)
Rain is falling down. Splash! (clap)
Pitter patter, pitter patter
Rain is falling down. Splash! (clap)

Sun is peeking out. Peek!
Sun is peeking out. Peek!
Peeking here, peeking there,
Sun is peeking out. Peek!

Stomping in the Rain 

We're stomping in the rain, (stomp feet)
We're stomping in the rain,
We can't go yet,
We must get wet!
We're stomping in the rain!
Other verses can include clapping, hopping, twirling, dancing, etc.

Shoo Rain Don’t Bother Me (Tune: Shoo Fly)

Shoo, rain, don’t bother me . . . 
Shoo, rain, don’t bother me . . . 
Shoo, rain, don’t bother me . . . 
For there’s a rainbow over me. 

I splash, I splash, (stomp)
I splash when it’s wet outside. 
I splash, I splash, (stomp)
I splash when it’s wet outside.