Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema

The Nandi tribe lives in Kenya and this is one of their folktales. The colorful, detailed pictures will keep the children interested while they are learning about the connection between nature and human beings. I highly recommend Verna Aardema's 'Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain' to anyone who has young children and is looking for a book that illustrates the relationship between nature and human beings. Readers will also learn how the lives of humans and animals are dependent on rain people and animals need each other and every part of nature for their perfect existence. Readers of all ages will see that human life is totally dependent upon nature, and the existence of human beings without nature is nearly impossible. As an adult, I enjoy this book because it describes the cycle of life in a very interesting way. The pictures are so vibrant that it is easy to imagine the world of Ki-pat. From this book, however, they will learn about the connection between humans and nature by enjoying the colored pictures. Scientifically, it is unconceivable, but 4- to 8-year-old children do not have to understand the facts of science. It deals with the relationship of humans with water, plants and animals.

I particularly enjoyed one line where the author rhymes 'fat' and 'Ki-pat': 'So the grass grew green/ And the cattle fat!/ And Ki-pat got a wife/ And a little Ki-pat-.' This story is suitable for young children because its tone is happy. The rhymes and rhythms are so strong that all young children will be wide eyed with suspense and interest until the very end of the story. This is a memorable story it is very simple to understand and has a powerful musical quality that, as a young adult, I enjoy reading aloud. The narrative structure of the story is based on a sequence of events that builds suspense and interest in children until the end of the story. This is a simple story about a cattle herdsman and his wish for rain on the African plain. I have enjoyed it so much that I am planning to give it as a gift to my sister who has two young children, ages 4 and 7. I really love the book 'Bringing The Rain to Kapiti Plain,' by Verna Aardema.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema