Review - The Biggest Puddle in the World

The Biggest Puddle in the World
by Mark Lee
illustrated by Nathalie Dion
Date: 2019
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

When Sarah and her younger brother Charlie go to stay with their grandparents, it rains for days. At first, they have fun exploring inside the big, old house, but eventually they want to explore outside, too. “Where does the rain come from?” Sarah asks her grandfather, Big T. He promises to show her once it stops raining.

When the storm passes, Sarah, Big T., Charlie and Keeper the dog go exploring. They jump in puddles, draw a puddle map and finally find the biggest puddle in the world!

Mark Lee’s lively story is an introduction to the water cycle for young readers. Nathalie Dion’s soft illustrations show the fun, loving relationship between Big T., Sarah and Charlie.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The Biggest Puddle in the World is a short, sweet look at the grandparent/grandchild relationship that somehow also manages to teach a bit about the water cycle.

Sarah (whose name doesn't appear in the book; if not for the synopsis, we would never know what to call her!) and her brother, Charlie, are staying with their grandparents. Unfortunately, it rains, so the kids are stuck inside for days. When the storm finally takes a break, their grandfather tells them he'll show them where the rain comes from... but first they have to find the biggest puddle in the world. The kids, grandfather, and dog go off in search of said puddle, seeing nature unfold after the rain as they make their way closer to their destination.

I'm not sure if the ending is that strong, but the journey to get there is lovely. I quite like the illustrations here, as there's plenty to look at, especially once the kids get outside.

Most adults will be able to guess the nature of "the biggest puddle in the world" long before the kids get there, but for young readers it may be a delightful surprise. I like the way this story is told, and the pictures are fun to look at. Overall, it's a fairly strong picture book that tells a story as well as teaches a little bit of science.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5