Down Come the Rain

This newly illustrated edition of Rain and Hail (Crowell, 1983) is a concise and informative look at the water cycle. Branley provides a fundamental understanding of how water is recycled, how clouds are formed, and why rain and hail occur. A few easy science activities are included. Words that might be unfamiliar to readers are defined in context. The pen-and-ink with watercolor wash paintings clearly interpret the concepts presented on each page. Throughout the book, speech bubbles from a group of children provide further clarification. This beginning reader would be especially useful to elementary teachers, but will also fill a niche for young researchers.