RAIN BEFORE RAINBOWS

After a fire damages their castle home, a child and their fox companion venture into the unknown.

As the pair treks over mountains and battles misty dragons in dark woods, Prasadam-Halls reassures readers via singsong rhymes that tough or scary situations won’t last forever. “Thunder will rumble. Lightning will flash. / The wind will start blowing, and tall waves will crash,” she acknowledges as the child rows against a double-page spread of waves teeming with sharp-eyed creatures. But, she promises, as a troupe of woodland critters welcomes them to a sun-gilded shore, “There are friends who will help us, courageous and kind.” After planting seeds, child and fox snuggle in a stick shelter. Waking to a “day full of promise, a day full of light,” they dance beneath a double-page rainbow and full-grown apple tree (that seems to have grown overnight). Litchfield’s luminous illustrations carry the story, vividly balancing light and dark hues. Even eerie nights still sparkle with stars, matching the text’s hopeful tone. Illustrations don’t always mirror the text concretely, however; for instance, an elk appears above the line “There’s a map that will guide us when troubles arise,” and there is no map to be seen. Some readers seeking solace amid similar hardships may find the fairy tale–esque framing frustratingly simplistic; others will be comforted by the rhythmic rhymes and dreamlike illustrations. The child has light-brown skin and straight, black hair. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.3-by-20.2-inch double-page spreads viewed at 54.4% of actual size.)

An eye-catching lullaby for tough times.