Review - My Rainy Day Rocket Ship

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship
by Markette Sheppard
illustrated by Charly Palmer
Date: 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

There are only so many puddles a child can jump in on a rainy day. A stormy afternoon and an order from Mom to stay inside are no match for this little dreamer, who uses everyday household items--a rocking chair, a cardboard box, an old dishrag, and his super-duper imagination--to whip up an indoor space adventure he won't soon forget. A spectacular launch into outer space ultimately lands him on a new planet called X-Y-Z, also known as B-E-D, in a faraway galaxy known as the Land of ZZZZZZs.

This rhythmic read-aloud is, on the surface, all about the soaring ingenuity of a child who refuses to let boredom outdo his inventiveness: he builds a rocket ship, designs his space gear, waves his flag, and uses his magical mind to take flight. Dig deeper and see a celebration of a little boy's imagination and all the ways he uses it to transform the mundane into the extraordinary and to dream out loud.

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the imaginations of black boys who use their beautiful minds to boldly go where not even the sky is a limit.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The premise here is fine, and the illustrations are unique and adorable. But what is up with that rhyme scheme? Some words that are supposed to rhyme don't. There's no meter. A couplet is stuck in there for no good reason. This would be tricky to try to read aloud.

A little boy using his imagination on a rainy day is fine. But the writing just doesn't work for me. This book could've been something really special if more attention had been paid to the text.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 2/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.57 out of 5