The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
	The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly theme-based booklist available as an online-only Bulletin feature. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin, we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an extra one or two when we have them to offer--so don't expect an even dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. See the archive for lists from previous months.
	Download a printer-friendly PDF version This Bulletin Dozen is formatted as a double-sided, tri-fold brochure. Select double-sided option when printing or print out both pages and photocopy accordingly. PDF (Portable Document Format) files are read using Adobe's Acrobat Reader. Download a free copy of Acrobat or read more information on downloading PDFs.

April Showers:  A Wet Dozen --selected by Deborah Stevenson, Editor Since we're preparing for the proverbial April showers (or, here in the Midwest, April downpours), we thought it was time for an updated celebration of water itself, whether it be tame or wild, benefit or threat.  If you want to get in even deeper, look also at our previous water dozen from May 2002.

• Choi, Yangsook.  Peach Heaven; written and illus. by Yangsook Choi.  Foster/Farrar, 2005.  5-8 yrs
  In this picture-book memoir of a childhood event, weeks of rain flood Korea and spell doom for the area’s crucial peach crop unless people can band together to save the delicate and tempting fruit. (BCCB 6/05)
  
  
• Cooper, Elisha.  Beach; written and illus. by Elisha Cooper.  Orchard, 2006.  5-9 yrs
  Cooper’s lithe watercolors and observant text document the various possibilities of a day at the water’s edge amid crowds of interesting beachgoers and marine enthusiasts.  (BCCB 7/06)
  
  
  
• Doyle, Malachy.  Splash, Joshua, Splash; illus. by Ken Wilson-Max.  Bloomsbury, 2004.  2-5 yrs
  In this vivid picture book tribute to splashing, Joshua and Granny are out for a gloriously wet day, feeding the ducks in the pond, marching through puddles, and playing in the fountain before they return home in the rain.  (BCCB 11/04)
  
  

• Evans, Lezlie.  Rain Song; illus. by Cynthia Jabar.  Houghton, 1995.  3-6 yrs
  Rain may stop backyard play for this two little girls, but watching the storm from inside and joining in with its sounds provides its own delightful game.  (BCCB 3/95)
  
  
  
• Guiberson, Brenda Z.  Rain, Rain, Rain Forest; illus. by Steve Jenkins.  Holt, 2004.  5-8 yrs
  The rain of the rain forest gets the credit in this overview of the various forms of life it drenches into life.  (BCCB 6/04)
  
  

• Kerley, Barbara.  Cool Drink of Water. National Geographic, 2002.  4-10 yrs
  This handsome photoessay documents the various ways people around the world obtain their drinking water, quietly making the point about the resource’s value.  (BCCB 9/02)
  
  
  
• Kinsey-Warnock, Natalie.  Nora’s Ark; illus. by Emily Arnold McCully.  HarperCollins, 2005.  5-7 yrs
  Based on a real event (the Vermont flood of 1927), this lively picture book tells of a farmhouse becoming a shelter for a neighborhood of humans and animals in the face of rising water.  (BCCB 9/05)
  
  
• Kurtz, Jane.  River Friendly, River Wild; illus. by Neil Brennan.  Simon, 2000.  Gr. 2-5
  Accessible free-verse poems, based on the author’s experience, describe a family’s travails as the Red River overtops its banks and swallows their town.  (BCCB 2/00)
  
  
  
• Levine, Shar.  Ultimate Bubble Book:  Soapy Science Fun; by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone; illus. by Simon Shaw.  Sterling, 2003.  Gr. 3-6
  Add a little magic to water and you can get amazingly effervescent outdoor fun, as this guidebook to bubble creation demonstrates.  (BCCB 6/04)
  
  
  
• Lucke, Deb.  The Boy Who Wouldn’t Swim; written and illus. by Deb Lucke.  Clarion, 2008  6-9 yrs
  Everybody in town loves the pool except for young Eric, who’s afraid of the water and who hides it behind sulking and pranks; once he’s finally in the pool, though, he just as stubbornly refuses to leave it.  (BCCB 6/08)
  
  
  
• Martin, Jacqueline Briggs.  The Water Gift and the Pig of the Pig; illus. by Linda S. WIngerter.  Houghton, 2003.  6-9 yrs
  This warmly folksy wonder tale follows the narrator’s grandfather, gifted with the ability to find water and proud owner of a most excellent pig, as his luck seemingly deserts him.  (BCCB 5/03)
  
  
  
• Sidman, Joyce.  Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems; illus. by Beckie Prange.  Houghton, 2005.  Gr. 4-7
  Gifted poet Sidman offers eleven eloquent and lyrical poems treating denizens of the water, paired with sturdy and vigorous woodcut illustrations.  (BCCB 7/05)
  
  

• Singer, Marilyn.  How to Cross a Pond and Other Poems about Water; illus. by Meilo So.  Knopf, 2003.  Gr. 5-9
  Singer treats thirsty poetry fans to nineteen clever, playful poems about water.  (BCCB 10/03)
  
  
• Stojic, Manya.  Rain; written and illus. by Manya Stojic.  Crown, 2000.  3-5 yrs
  Stojic’s sensory tribute to the blessing of rain in an arid climate chronicles African animals’ joyous response to the oncoming downpour in simple text and bold, rhythmic illustrations.  (BCCB 7/00)
  
  

This page was last updated on April 1, 2009.