Rain School -- James Rumford, Hardcover

It is the first day of school in Chad, Africa. Children are filling the road.

Will they give us a notebook? Thomas asks.
Will they give us a pencil?
Will I learn to read?

But when he and the other children arrive at the schoolyard, they find no classroom, no desks. Just a teacher. We will build our school, she says. This is our first lesson.

James Rumford, who lived in Chad as a Peace Corps volunteer, fills these pages with vibrant ink-and-pastel colors of Africa and the spare words of a poet to show how important learning is in a country where only a few children are able to go to school.

Author: James Rumford
Publisher: Clarion Books
Published: 10/25/2010
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.90h x 11.50w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9780547243078
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 2.5
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 140157 / Rain School

Award: Kentucky Bluegrass Award - Nominee
Award: Volunteer State Book Awards - Nominee
Award: Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award - Nominee
Award: Parents Choice Awards (Fall) (2008-Up) - Recommended

Review Citation(s):
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2011 pg. 44
Booklist 09/01/2010 pg. 97
School Library Journal 10/01/2010 pg. 93
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2010
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2010
Booklist Ed Choice Youth 01/01/2011 pg. 14

About the Author
Award-winning author and illustrator James Rumford taught school with his wife, Carol, in Chad. One day, in the middle of the rainy season, they came upon the mud ruins of the town's primary school. Many years later, the memory of that school and the desire of Chadians to get an education no matter the obstacles gave birth to Rain School.