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Rocket and Friends
Rocket's Very Fine Day
It's a beautiful sunny day and Rocket and Bella have big plans for fun in the sun. That is until a drop of rain falls and the clouds roll in.
32 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2019
4 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Tad Hills
60 books126 followers“Whenever I picture myself [as a child],” says Tad Hills, “I am doing art. I spent a lot of time on my own making things, drawing, and painting.” Hills was not consciously trying to become an artist, rather his motives were innocent and pure. “I liked making things,” he says.
As a graduate of Skidmore College in New York with a degree in art, Hills describes himself as the ultimate freelancer. He’s done some acting, made jewelry, makes fake teeth for stage productions, dabbled in interior renovation, and illustrated book jackets for adult trade books. But Hills’ break into children’s publishing coincided with his wife Lee’s new position as the art director for Simon and Schuster’s children’s book division. “Lee used to ask me to try illustrating some books she couldn’t find an illustrator for,” Hills says. When Lee moved to Random House to start her own imprint with long-time friend and associate, Ann Schwartz, she encouraged Hills to write his own picture books. “I started with four stories,” says Hills. His break out book, Duck and Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2006) was one of them.
The idea for Duck and Goose started with only a title—The Silly Goose, the Odd Duck and the Good Egg. As Hills developed the story, he realized his egg would have to be rather large to support Duck and Goose so they could hatch it. Hills also had to consider what would hatch out of such a large egg. A dinosaur? An ostrich? Additionally, Hills floated the title by his son’s kindergarten class and was rewarded with blank stares. Hills took the hint and changed his egg to a ball, and changed the title.
“For me, the writing is really difficult. I stare at a blank page for hours,” he says. “When Lee comes home and asks me about my day, I say it was okay. I wrote one sentence. . .But when I’m in the zone, I literally hear the dialogue between [Duck and Goose]. They were telling me what they wanted to say! That is the best feeling. That is when it’s not work. It’s fun!”
Hills paints with water-soluble oil paint on paper, using colored pencils for the last details. Although Hills’ Duck and Goose characters look simple enough, he drew hundreds of ducks and geese before finding a style with which he was comfortable. “The first ones [I drew] were older looking,” he says. “They looked like cigar-smoking tough guys.” Over a matter of months, Hills finally pared down Duck and Goose to their essential elements—circular heads, long rectangular legs, triangular feet, and door-shaped beaks. “When I apply the eyebrow,” he says, “I can express what Duck is feeling.”
As Hills’ two children grow, he finds himself drawn to how kids treat each other. “I didn’t tolerate meanness or injustice as a kid,” he says. In Duck, Duck, Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2007), Hills creates a friendship triangle by introducing a new duck named Thistle. Together Duck, Goose, and Thistle give Hills’ observations a voice and provide several conversation starters for parents and children.
Hills writes from his home in Brooklyn, New York. Some days he doesn’t write at all, but tries to stay receptive to what he’s experiencing. “Most of my ideas come to me when I’m not looking,” he says. “It’s hard to get yourself to a point where ideas are out there and you can grab them.”
from http://www.patriciamnewman.com/hills....
As a graduate of Skidmore College in New York with a degree in art, Hills describes himself as the ultimate freelancer. He’s done some acting, made jewelry, makes fake teeth for stage productions, dabbled in interior renovation, and illustrated book jackets for adult trade books. But Hills’ break into children’s publishing coincided with his wife Lee’s new position as the art director for Simon and Schuster’s children’s book division. “Lee used to ask me to try illustrating some books she couldn’t find an illustrator for,” Hills says. When Lee moved to Random House to start her own imprint with long-time friend and associate, Ann Schwartz, she encouraged Hills to write his own picture books. “I started with four stories,” says Hills. His break out book, Duck and Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2006) was one of them.
The idea for Duck and Goose started with only a title—The Silly Goose, the Odd Duck and the Good Egg. As Hills developed the story, he realized his egg would have to be rather large to support Duck and Goose so they could hatch it. Hills also had to consider what would hatch out of such a large egg. A dinosaur? An ostrich? Additionally, Hills floated the title by his son’s kindergarten class and was rewarded with blank stares. Hills took the hint and changed his egg to a ball, and changed the title.
“For me, the writing is really difficult. I stare at a blank page for hours,” he says. “When Lee comes home and asks me about my day, I say it was okay. I wrote one sentence. . .But when I’m in the zone, I literally hear the dialogue between [Duck and Goose]. They were telling me what they wanted to say! That is the best feeling. That is when it’s not work. It’s fun!”
Hills paints with water-soluble oil paint on paper, using colored pencils for the last details. Although Hills’ Duck and Goose characters look simple enough, he drew hundreds of ducks and geese before finding a style with which he was comfortable. “The first ones [I drew] were older looking,” he says. “They looked like cigar-smoking tough guys.” Over a matter of months, Hills finally pared down Duck and Goose to their essential elements—circular heads, long rectangular legs, triangular feet, and door-shaped beaks. “When I apply the eyebrow,” he says, “I can express what Duck is feeling.”
As Hills’ two children grow, he finds himself drawn to how kids treat each other. “I didn’t tolerate meanness or injustice as a kid,” he says. In Duck, Duck, Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2007), Hills creates a friendship triangle by introducing a new duck named Thistle. Together Duck, Goose, and Thistle give Hills’ observations a voice and provide several conversation starters for parents and children.
Hills writes from his home in Brooklyn, New York. Some days he doesn’t write at all, but tries to stay receptive to what he’s experiencing. “Most of my ideas come to me when I’m not looking,” he says. “It’s hard to get yourself to a point where ideas are out there and you can grab them.”
from http://www.patriciamnewman.com/hills....
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 9, 2025
I so love all the Rocket books. I don't mind reading them over and over.
This book is about Rocket and his friend Bella the squirrel.
Rocket and Bella are out enjoying a fine day when it starts to rain. They seek shelter under a tree where Bella remarks that she likes puddles. So - yes - even despite the rain - it was a very fine day.
This book is about Rocket and his friend Bella the squirrel.
Rocket and Bella are out enjoying a fine day when it starts to rain. They seek shelter under a tree where Bella remarks that she likes puddles. So - yes - even despite the rain - it was a very fine day.
August 28, 2019
This was cute but something went wrong with the printing. I received this book new at my library and there was a lot of grit from I think the rain pictures on pages that there should have been, and it was messy and wiped off. :( A cute story otherwise.
January 29, 2023
This is a cute book for young children. I liked that it opened up the opportunity to talk with kids about making the best of their situation, even if it isn’t what they planned. I’d be happy to read more books by this author/out of this series!
September 20, 2023
The day starts out nice for Bella and Rocket, but soon it starts to rain. Bella helps Rocket by suggesting they can play in puddles. A good book for when life doesn't go according to plan. I enjoyed the sunset colors.
April 30, 2025
Read with Cecilia on 30 Apr 2025
Read with Joseph on 30 Apr 2025
Rocket and Bella are having a great time playing in the meadow then it starts to rain. After awhile they remember that they both like playing in puddles.
Read with Joseph on 30 Apr 2025
Rocket and Bella are having a great time playing in the meadow then it starts to rain. After awhile they remember that they both like playing in puddles.
October 16, 2019
Two friends have fun playing in both sunny and rainy weather. Good for emergent readers!
November 6, 2019
A squirrel and his dog spend the day outside playing and enjoying differnt weather scenerios including a storm. Preschool and up
August 23, 2021
This was a cute and engaging early reader book. Rocket the dog and Bella the squirrel plan a day of fun, but what will happen when it rains? Adorable illustrations.
August 23, 2022
Cute story for a new reader with funny illustrations!
June 5, 2023
“I liked how they were splashing in the muddy puddles and playing catch. I liked when they were hiding under the tree and I really loved when they were walking on the logs.” S, age 7
June 17, 2023
I love all of Tad Hills books! I still keep these on my shelf for my daycare kids.
August 4, 2024
Hills Valleys #22
Rocket & Friends #9
Not one of the better tales but at least it was a story and had a plot to follow along with.
The series continues!
Rocket & Friends #9
Not one of the better tales but at least it was a story and had a plot to follow along with.
The series continues!
March 31, 2025
Rocket doggy books are my favorite
December 31, 2019
A solid early reader with the sweetheart character, Rocket.
October 15, 2019
Rocket and Bella are having fun playing in the sun, but when clouds roll in and rain drops start to fall will that spoil their fun?
I like how Rocket and Bella make the best out of their situation. Their puddle stomping is quite epic. (And I have no clue how they end up so clean at the end.) A good book to encourage kids to look for the positives in various situations. Hand this to animal lovers and puddle stompers.
I like how Rocket and Bella make the best out of their situation. Their puddle stomping is quite epic. (And I have no clue how they end up so clean at the end.) A good book to encourage kids to look for the positives in various situations. Hand this to animal lovers and puddle stompers.
February 18, 2022
Another adorable installment about Rocket the dog. The whole series is wonderful!
May 19, 2023
Very cute story about a dog and a squirrel.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews