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Lila and the Secret of Rain
For months the sun has burned down on Lila's Kenyan village. It is too hot to gather firewood, too hot to weed the garden, even too hot to milk the cow. Without rain the well will run dry and the crops will fail. Lila is so worried that when her grandfather whispers to her the secret of rain, she decides to go and talk to the sky herself. How Lila saves the village by telling the sky the saddest thing she knows is told in David Conway's elegant and spare prose style, which is complemented perfectly by Jude Daly's beautiful and poignant illustrations.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
David Conway
203 books9 followersDavid Conway is a children's picture book author who has written for Hodder, Random House, Frances Lincoln and Gullane Children's Books. He has been awarded The Peter Pan Silver Star by the Swedish wing of the IBBY and the Parents' Choice Gold Award in the US for Lila and the Secret of Rain. His first picture book The Most Important Gift of All illustrated by Karin Littlewood, was nominated for The Kate Greenaway Medal in 2006.
David's most recent picture book The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster was chosen as one of the children's books of the year 2008 by Nicolette Jones of The Sunday Times and has been shortlisted for the 2009 Sheffield Children's Book Award. Shine Moon Shine was chosen as one of the top ten picture books of 2008 by The Bookbag.
David's picture books are published in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Spain (Catalan and Spanish) Columbia, Korea the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa and Japan. As well as writing David is a stay-at-home father and brings up his two children Bess and Jude and a cat called Bobby. David's wife works in academic publishing.
David's most recent picture book The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster was chosen as one of the children's books of the year 2008 by Nicolette Jones of The Sunday Times and has been shortlisted for the 2009 Sheffield Children's Book Award. Shine Moon Shine was chosen as one of the top ten picture books of 2008 by The Bookbag.
David's picture books are published in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Spain (Catalan and Spanish) Columbia, Korea the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa and Japan. As well as writing David is a stay-at-home father and brings up his two children Bess and Jude and a cat called Bobby. David's wife works in academic publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 10, 2013
Lila and the secret of rain is all about a young girl who lives in a Kenyan village. It is very hot and the sun burns all day every day. It is so hot all the villagers stay inside during the day. It is too hot to do their chores. The well has dried up because of the heat and the villagers are beginning to worry. Lila's grandfather shares a secret with Lila. Lila goes on a mission to the highest mountain and tells the sky of her saddest times. Nothing seems to work and Lila begins to cry. A breeze begins and the sky begins to change colour. It is full of Lila's sadness. Then the rain begins to fall. The villagers were very happy and celebrated the rain by singing and dancing. Lila and her grandfather now share the secret of rain.
This is an amazing book that encourages children to consider that others live differently than we do. It is a useful book for literacy when making comparisons to Lila's village and where we live. It enables children to recall any experiences they may have had if they have come from a hot country or even visited a hot country. It also leads onto 'green' issues such as saving water and allowing children to consider that our actions have an impact in the world we live. There are lots of colourful images that enable children to visualize the difficulties that the villagers face.
This book can be a really good resource for Year two children to share as a class to engage in thought processes. It could also be a useful independent reader.
This is an amazing book that encourages children to consider that others live differently than we do. It is a useful book for literacy when making comparisons to Lila's village and where we live. It enables children to recall any experiences they may have had if they have come from a hot country or even visited a hot country. It also leads onto 'green' issues such as saving water and allowing children to consider that our actions have an impact in the world we live. There are lots of colourful images that enable children to visualize the difficulties that the villagers face.
This book can be a really good resource for Year two children to share as a class to engage in thought processes. It could also be a useful independent reader.
June 24, 2017
Lila and the Secret of Rain is a tale about a Kenyan village that is experiencing a dry spell and the little girl who makes it rain by whispering to the sky. I loved this story because it highlighted a young person who does something difficult and brave for others, rather than just thinking of herself.
As a multicultural text, it presents the ethnic group in authentic dress and nods to their traditional beliefs. It doesn't really explain anything about being Kenyan, though. However, Lila is an individual and not just a representation of her ethnic group.
In the classroom, I would use this book for cause & effect (What were the effects of the lack of rain?What does Lila do and what response does it generate?) and inference, especially in the context of Lila's pleas to the sky and how her emotion brings about the rain storm. Also, for older students, the placement of symbols, like the sun and later the dark clouds, within the illustrations would prove interesting for analysis.
As a multicultural text, it presents the ethnic group in authentic dress and nods to their traditional beliefs. It doesn't really explain anything about being Kenyan, though. However, Lila is an individual and not just a representation of her ethnic group.
In the classroom, I would use this book for cause & effect (What were the effects of the lack of rain?What does Lila do and what response does it generate?) and inference, especially in the context of Lila's pleas to the sky and how her emotion brings about the rain storm. Also, for older students, the placement of symbols, like the sun and later the dark clouds, within the illustrations would prove interesting for analysis.
May 7, 2012
The story is of a girl named Lila who lives in a village in Kenya; where they have not seen rain for several months. The crops are withering, the cattle are suffering, and the heat is so unbearable the villagers cannot do their regular work. When Lila overhears her mother saying that the well has dried up, her worries grow. In desperation, she seeks her grandfather's wisdom about the secret of rain and then leaves her village to try and accomplish the impossible.
I really liked this book for the different meanings you can find. The book can be used within different contexts in schools. If you were teaching a topic/theme about water this would be a great resource. The vivid text and beautiful illustrations also helps to tell a powerful story of something we take for granted. This can also be used to talk about natural resources and how different cultures rely on it and how they use it. I think this can be used throughout KS1/2.
I really liked this book for the different meanings you can find. The book can be used within different contexts in schools. If you were teaching a topic/theme about water this would be a great resource. The vivid text and beautiful illustrations also helps to tell a powerful story of something we take for granted. This can also be used to talk about natural resources and how different cultures rely on it and how they use it. I think this can be used throughout KS1/2.
May 20, 2020
I was really surprised by how much my class enjoyed this book. Some of their feedback follows:
'It made me happy when they were all ok'
'It's sad when they have no water'
'Their houses are so weird' (good point for a quick discussion!)
'I like how it's a secret and she keeps it'
Overall, this scored 28 thumbs up out of 30. An excellent result for a book that doesn't even have any silly bits!
'It made me happy when they were all ok'
'It's sad when they have no water'
'Their houses are so weird' (good point for a quick discussion!)
'I like how it's a secret and she keeps it'
Overall, this scored 28 thumbs up out of 30. An excellent result for a book that doesn't even have any silly bits!
December 16, 2016
The illustrations in this book are simply beautiful. The story is simply beautiful. I can't wait until January to read this book to my class because they will just love it.
November 16, 2021
Lila and the Secret of Rain by David Convey Illustrator Jade Daly- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of Lila a young girl who lives in a Kenyan village. During summer, weather is so hot that the villagers stay inside their houses during the day. They are unable to milk the cow, remove weeds from the farm land. The well has dried up. Lila's grandfather shares a secret with Lila that she must walk to the highest point on the hill and narrate her tale of difficulties to the Sky. Lila goes on a mission to the highest mountain and tells the sky of her saddest times. Nothing seems to work and Lila begins to cry. Just then, a breeze begins and the sky begins to change colour. It is full of Lila's sadness. Then the rain begins to fall. The villagers were very happy and celebrated the rain by singing and dancing. Lila and her grandfather now share the secret of rain. It also leads onto 'green' issues such as saving water and allowing children to consider that our actions have an impact in the world we live. There are lots of colourful images that enable children to visualize the difficulties that the villagers face. I have read this book in Hindi language. Coloured illustrations also help the reader in relating to the story.
April 2, 2020
Lila’s village in Kenya hasn’t seen rain for many weeks. They are afraid that the well will dry up. “Without water there can be no life.” Lila’s grandfather tells her a story a man who told him the secret of rain. “You must climb the highest mountain ... and tell the sky the saddest thing you know.”
So Lila climbs to the sky and talks of the sadness in her life. At first, Lila doesn’t think the sky is listening, but then a flash of lightning and a bolt of thunder precedes a gentle rain. By the time she gets back to her village, they are celebrating the rain. Only Lila and her grandfather know why the rain came.
So Lila climbs to the sky and talks of the sadness in her life. At first, Lila doesn’t think the sky is listening, but then a flash of lightning and a bolt of thunder precedes a gentle rain. By the time she gets back to her village, they are celebrating the rain. Only Lila and her grandfather know why the rain came.
January 13, 2021
Lila and the Secret of Rain is a story about a Kenyan village that is experiencing a dry spell and the little girl who makes it rain by whispering to the sky. The story looks at determination, bravery, and putting others before yourself. This book book poses so many questions to it's younger audience about Kenya, the water cycle, Lila's actions and not giving in on something you may be wishing for.
October 21, 2022
Lila está preocupada com seu vilarejo no Quênia pois não chove há tempos. Plantações, gado podem morrer sem água!
Seu avô então conta-lhe um segredo: o segredo da chuva. A menina então trata de resolver a situação usando esta história. E o segredo da chuva é tão lindo! ❤
As ilustrações são delicadas, bem como a história em si. Lila só consegue "fazer chover" quando expõe um problema da comunidade, e não apenas seu.
Seu avô então conta-lhe um segredo: o segredo da chuva. A menina então trata de resolver a situação usando esta história. E o segredo da chuva é tão lindo! ❤
As ilustrações são delicadas, bem como a história em si. Lila só consegue "fazer chover" quando expõe um problema da comunidade, e não apenas seu.
April 1, 2025
This book is about a girl named Lila who lives in a village in Kenya, and her village is wishing for rain. This book shows a different culture as well as beliefs, such as her grandfather telling her to tell a sad story at the top of a mountain to the sky to make it cry. I think this is an easy read for children and allows them to think of how their culture brings in their own beliefs.
July 8, 2018
A nice glimpse into life in a Kenyan village with a bit of magic, too.
February 23, 2021
My daughter, Lila, loves that this Lila saves her village.
November 10, 2009
Lila and the Secret of Rain
K-8th grade (dependent upon corresponding curriculum)
The text was very descriptive in regard to the gravity of what Lila was talking about. Examples are: “very hot, so hot”, “for weeks and weeks”, “Lila walked and walked and walked”. The text is also broken up with the illustrations and negative space. Some pages the texts is on top of the illustration, on other pages it is isolated to a section of negative space. Also, there seems to be no pattern that I can identify, but some pages have text on one page or two pages of text in 4 or less different frames within the pages. Most pages or sections of the page are limited to about 2-3 sentences.
Daly uses a very small palette of browns, yellows, red, and black. The truly neat continuing theme throughout the book with the illustrations is the use of color in correspondence with the text. For example anytime the little girl, Lila, was referencing past or future tense the illustrations were in primarily black and white and only the peoples clothing was in color. The sun is always depicted as a fierce golden yellow regardless of past, present or future tense.
I think this book is very appealing to kids. I talks about the courage of one girl and how she saves her village. It talks about different cultures and climates. There are so many ways to use this book and I feel it is something that kids could really relate too.
I really like this book. It was a nice depiction of an African culture and would be a great integration to many different lessons.
Subject Uses:
Social Studies:
Discuss and do a project in regard to weather and climate. You could talk about legends and secrets.
Science:
Talk about the importance of water to the life of people, animals and plants.
K-8th grade (dependent upon corresponding curriculum)
The text was very descriptive in regard to the gravity of what Lila was talking about. Examples are: “very hot, so hot”, “for weeks and weeks”, “Lila walked and walked and walked”. The text is also broken up with the illustrations and negative space. Some pages the texts is on top of the illustration, on other pages it is isolated to a section of negative space. Also, there seems to be no pattern that I can identify, but some pages have text on one page or two pages of text in 4 or less different frames within the pages. Most pages or sections of the page are limited to about 2-3 sentences.
Daly uses a very small palette of browns, yellows, red, and black. The truly neat continuing theme throughout the book with the illustrations is the use of color in correspondence with the text. For example anytime the little girl, Lila, was referencing past or future tense the illustrations were in primarily black and white and only the peoples clothing was in color. The sun is always depicted as a fierce golden yellow regardless of past, present or future tense.
I think this book is very appealing to kids. I talks about the courage of one girl and how she saves her village. It talks about different cultures and climates. There are so many ways to use this book and I feel it is something that kids could really relate too.
I really like this book. It was a nice depiction of an African culture and would be a great integration to many different lessons.
Subject Uses:
Social Studies:
Discuss and do a project in regard to weather and climate. You could talk about legends and secrets.
Science:
Talk about the importance of water to the life of people, animals and plants.
April 19, 2014
There are many stories told about calling for rain, and this is another, set in a village whose wells and crops are drying up because of the lack of rain. Watercolor illustrations are filled with hot sun, blue sky, and browntones of a desert-like land. Lila’s grandfather tells her a story that he said was told to him of “the secret of rain”. One must climb the highest nearest mountain and tell the sky the saddest stories. Lily listened, and followed her grandfather’s advice. Can you imagine what happened? The words in the story are poetic: “the sky was ebony with emotion”. I feel it would be a good addition to a collection of myths in storytelling.
September 3, 2011
Multicultural: 2008 - In this multicultural folk tale, the story of an African village's need for rain is solved with Lila's talk with the sky. I plan to use this text this year as I try a theme about water. I think reading this book will support discussion of cultural similarities and differences, as well as geographical impacts on a society. The beautiful illustrations in this text eloquently support the story.
July 7, 2013
This is a beautiful book about a small girl Lila, set in a Kenyan village. Its about bravery, courage and hope, narrated beautifully through expressive illustrations by Jude Daly. I love the illustration style, somehow the intensity of the sun, comparison of the scale of human and the nature and the hope of the rain, is wonderfully conveyed through the beautiful watercolors. One of the favorite books of my son and daughter for bed time reading.
March 29, 2015
Lila lives in a village in Kenya. They have not had rain for a very long time. It's too hot to weed, too hot to milk the cow, and too hot gather firewood. Without rain, there will be no life. Lila's grandfather tells her the secret of rain. She goes up to the tallest mountain and tells the sky the saddest things she knows. Eventually, the rain begins to fall and everyone in the village rejoices!
Good for preschool storytimes.
Good for preschool storytimes.
August 9, 2014
Lila and the Secret of Rain by David Conway and Jude Daly – 2007 – Simple, touching story about how a girl brings rain to her village. Really enjoyed how the stories Lila found to be the saddest stories she knew but when she was honest and told of how she was suffering under the sun, then the rain came… Good to partner with a few other rain related books!
March 4, 2016
Lila and the secret of rain is a amasing Book but it is a bit sad in the middel of it.It is a fantastick Book because at the end it is realy realy happy.In the begining it is sad because the sun is realy mad the sun is like it is evel.There are lots of onomatapaya in it it has exiting words in the Book.It should be recomended to a 5,4 and 3 years old peapel and 6,7 yares old peaple.
March 4, 2016
The Story is about a girl named Lila . She had to stay in her hut because it was like a burning sun.
Her mum and her brother had to stay indoors. Lila had to climb the tallest mountain to save the day.
Later on, when she came back the Kenyan village was celebrating with music and dancing. She was surprised to see them celebrating.
Her mum and her brother had to stay indoors. Lila had to climb the tallest mountain to save the day.
Later on, when she came back the Kenyan village was celebrating with music and dancing. She was surprised to see them celebrating.
June 6, 2015
La narración es sencilla pero profunda, lo habíamos leído hace mucho y no le llamo para nada la atención ahora lo llevo a reflexionar sobre la aldea de lila, y sobre las consecuencias de la falta de lluvia
March 4, 2016
I really liked the story because it had lots of detail. I really like story because it was set in a good place.
I liked all the discribing words in the book.I like Lila because Lila was crying at the top of the mountain.
The bit when Lila ran down the mountain.
I liked all the discribing words in the book.I like Lila because Lila was crying at the top of the mountain.
The bit when Lila ran down the mountain.
March 4, 2016
The story is about a girl named Lila who lives in Kenya .She climbed up tallest mountain.For few
minutes a flash of lightning finally rain fell down from the sky.
We recommend this to 7 years old and younger.
March 4, 2016
This story is about a little girl called Lila and her familly lives in a villag called Kenya and is really hot over there.This story is really ocem becase they uesd similies , adjectives and loads of onomatopoeia.
March 4, 2016
A girl named lila and her famlly had to stay in their house because the sun bet down on the Kanyan vilige.One day she ran into her graneddad and asced him how to make it rain.He toled her to klim the hiest mownten and tell
August 14, 2008
to make the rain come... "You must climb the highest mountain and tell the sky the saddest thing you know"
December 23, 2010
This book is beautiful! I love the artwork and the quiet bravery of Lila in working to save her village from drought. I love taking a journey to a remote Kenyan village so far from my home.
Want to Read
January 7, 2016I want to read the whole book on lila and the secret of rain
March 4, 2016
I likte the story because It had repetition and it was a nice story
that was a fantastice story
It was a luvley
that was a fantastice story
It was a luvley
Want to Read
March 4, 2016The book is about a girl named Lila who lived in a Kenyan Village.It was incredibly hot.Everyone had to stay in their huts.Lila had to climb the highest mountain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews