Milestone Monday
Rain Day is celebrated each year on July 29th (and it's raining here in Milwaukee today)! The tradition began in the 1800s when pharmacist William Allison noticed a unique occurrence of rainfall every July 29th in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. This led him to keep a record of rainfall for the day, and the celebration has since become a widespread day dedicated to the love and appreciation of rain. In Waynesburg, people often bet on the weather, but more common commemorations include learning about rainfall and rainwater conservation.
In honor of Rain Day, we are sharing Umbrella, written and illustrated by Taro Yashima (1908-1994). Published in 1958 by The Viking Press, Umbrella tells the story of Momo, a young girl who receives rubber boots and an umbrella for her third birthday. She eagerly awaits a rainy day to use her new umbrella. Yashima's lively illustrations capture the vibrancy of the weather and reflect Momo's joy in the rainy day. Umbrella was named the 1959 Caldecott Honor Book, solidifying Yashima's place in children's literature history. It is another book from our extensive Historical Curriculum Collection that can be explored online here.
Read other Milestone Monday posts here
– Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern
