When a young boy sees “dark clouds roll like ocean waves across the sky” he knows that the monsoon rains are about to begin. His grandmother, mother, father, and brother are all too busy to come out to play, but Dadaji makes the time. The boy and his grandfather sail paper boats, walk in the rain, and swing on the banyan tree. Dadaji tells his grandson how monsoon arrived when he was a boy, just as it does now. “ 'Will monsoon come when I become a dadaji?’ 'Yes, it will,’ Dadaji replied.” Descriptive language captures the close relationship between the two as they experience the welcome change in weather together. (Ages 4–8)

A small boy expresses his excitement as the monsoon rains begin, signal ing the end of the hot, dry summer. But no one in his extended family wants to play in the rain except Dadaji, his grandfather. They sail boats and swing from the banyan tree, watch ants and peacocks, and pick the last mangoes, just as Dadaji did as a child. Sheth emphasizes the cyclical nature of India’s weather and the unpredictability of monsoons. She also includes—without comment—cultural markers such as cows wandering the streets. There is an author’s note about her childhood in India. 2009 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. lmp

A beautiful #OwnVoices tale of an Indian boy and his grandfather enjoying a rainy day together. From award-winning Indian-American writer Kashmira Sheth.

"Children of all backgrounds will easily recognize both the boy's delight in the dramatic rainstorm and the warm intergenerational relationship." ―Booklist

It is monsoon season in India. Outside, dark clouds roll in and the rain starts to fall. As animals scatter to find cover, a young boy and his dadaji (grandfather) head out into the rainy weather.

The two sail paper boats. They watch the peacocks dance in the rain, just as the colorful birds did when Dadaji was a boy. They pick mangoes and Dadaji lifts up his grandson so he can swing on the roots of the banyan tree, just as Dadaji did when he was young. Finally, when the two return home, hot tea and a loving family are waiting.

Author Kashmira Sheth's affectionate, sensitive story provides a look into Indian life and the shared moments and memories that bind generations together. Illustrator Yoshiko Jaeggi's colorful and fanciful watercolor artwork recreates the lush Indian landscape during monsoon season and captures the bond of love that unites a grandfather and his grandson.

Awards:

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (Honorable Mention, Picture Book) ―Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)
CCBC Choices (Picture Books for School-Age Children) ―Cooperative Children's Book Center, 2009
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People ―National Council for the Social Studies/Children's Book Council
Outstanding Books ―Wisconsin Library Association
Read On Wisconsin! (Preschool) ―Read On Wisconsin! April 2010

Also by Kashmira Sheth:
Feast of Peas
My Dadima Wears a Sari
Sona and the Wedding Game
Tiger in My Soup