Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema

I think it could be used with children in all elementary grades. Although Scholastic indicates “Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain” would be of interest to 3rd-5th graders, my kindergartener enjoyed listening to it.

According to Scholastic Book Wizard, the grade level equivalent for this book is 3.7. Topics such as drought and migration could be related to this book. It could also be integrated with social studies or science when learning about different ecosystems or weather. Because of the repetition, students should be able to remember the sequence of events. It could be used to teach about rhyming or about story sequence. This book has rhythm and a cumulative refrain like “The House That Jack Built” does, which makes it a good read aloud. It was passed down by storytellers until it was written down in 1909. It is a simple story with a clever hero who saves the cattle. This story is traditional literature because it is a folktale. It is about Ki-pat, a herdsman who tries to make it rain during a drought so the cattle will have grass to graze on. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, also illustrated by the Dillons, was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1976 and was chosen as an ALA Notable Children's Book, as was a third Aardema-Dillon collaboration, Behind the Back of the Mountain.“Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain” is a folktale from the Nandi people in Kenya.

Her book, Who's in Rabbit's House?, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, was an ALA Notable Children's Book and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, 1977. Verna Aardema has brought the original story closer to the English nursery rhyme by putting in a cumulative refrain and giving the tale the rhythm of 'The House That Jack Built.'Ībout the Author Verna Aardema (1911-2000) was a highly acclaimed storyteller and the author of many books of African folktales. Illustrations are stylized, simple, and dramatic'.-School Library Journal.īook Synopsis A cumulative rhyme relating how Ki-pat brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain.

'Cumulative rhyming tale with the rhythm and repetition of The House That Jack Built. About the Book The story of how Ki-pat ingeniously brings rain to the arid Kapiti Plain.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema