Genre Three - Poetry

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Grimes, Nikki. IT’S RAINNING LAUGHTER. Photos by Myles C. Pinkney. 1997. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803720033.

PLOT SUMMARY:
IT’S RAINING LAUGHTER is a collection of only a dozen poems but is numerous in the good feelings it inspires in children. Accompanied by full color photos by Myles C. Pinkney of African-American children, this book brings joy to its readers.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Nikki Grimes has written happiness and celebration into poetry that sings on each and every page. Children will love the easy to read and understand poems that speak to their daily lives. African-American children will particularly identify with the names used and the photos but all children will relate to the everyday fun in this book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
School Library Journal
“Full-color photographs of African-American children at work and play are placed on pastel-shaded pages that convey all the exuberance and delight of the selections. A harmonious blend of words and pictures.”

CONNECTIONS:
Young students can write their own poems about things that make them happy.

Elementary students can bring photos from home that demonstrate their own lives in happy moments or even that illustrate a poem from the book.

Middle school students or older elementary aged students can use digital cameras to take photos of their classmates in joyous situations and write poems to explain the pictures.