A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month February 2023
A delightful picture book in which a tiny twist of magic enables a little boy’s small blue umbrella to grow big enough to shelter everyone from the heavy rain.
Calling out to all the people he sees, the little boy brings everyone, young and old, in families or alone, under the umbrella’s shelter. Suddenly they are all friends and they all realise that talking and laughing, working and playing together makes life more fun. A warm message lightly told and beautifully illustrated.
Kindness is a magical thing, and in this gentle picture book kindness comes from somewhere unexpected. When a seemingly ordinary blue umbrella is offered to provide shelter from the rain, it grows to accommodate anyone in need.
It was not supposed to rain on the day that a small blue umbrella showed up on the little girl's doorstep with a note saying "For you." But she decided to take it along just in case. And despite the odds, it did rain. Seeing that her mom was getting soaked, the girl invites her to come under the umbrella too. At first it seemed like they couldn't possibly both fit, but then something magical happened…
The umbrella grew. So they offered shelter to more and more neighbors. What should have been a tight squeeze was instead enough room for everyone.
This story is a true celebration of kindness and sharing, with poignant words from Emily Ann Davison and charming illustrations from Momoko Abe, and is sure to become a favorite for young readers.
Emily Ann Davison worked with young children for many years before she finally fulfilled her childhood dream and began writing. When she isn't writing picture books, she can be found tinkling on the piano or at her local primary school, where she helps with reading. Emily lives in Kent, UK, with her daughter and husband.
