10 MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKS ON RAIN

As we begin our first week of April’s showers, we are celebrating the wonders and beauty of rain. Here are the 10 most beautiful books in our rain bucket list.

1. RAINDROPS ROLL

April Pulley Sayre created a rare find in [Raindrops Roll](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/148142064X/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=148142064X&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=HYO6EAE2A5JJ7SQ2) , a beautiful nonfiction picture book for adults. Raindrops Roll explores the wonders of rain, raindrops and the water cycle, with excellent writing and gorgeous photos.

Publisher: Beach Lane Books (2015)

 

2.  RAINFORESTS OF BRITAIN & IRELAND: A TRAVELLER’S GUIDE

Britain and Ireland are not places you would normally think of when thinking about rainforests. But, rainforests there receive more rainfall than most places in the world, including Brazilian rainforests. Clifton Bain takes us through [The Rainforests of Britain and Ireland](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1910124265/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1910124265&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=7G7IOJKVZAD23YTW), and shows us how the oak and birch-filled woodlands act as the lungs of the world.

Beautifully appointed with maps, travel guidance and original artwork.

Publisher: Sandstone Press Ltd (2015)

 

3. RAIN: A NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY

[Rain: A Natural and Cultural History](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804137099/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0804137099&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=LDB3ITFO75RUE7SL) , a new book by Cynthia Barnett, begins four billion years ago, when the planet’s first storms filled the oceans. It tracks the history of weather here, right up to the latest man made phenomena that are producing climate change.

The book masterfully combines scientific insights, such as how raindrops are shaped, to the human stories of weather’s impacts. It also includes a travel section, exploring beautiful rainy places, from the Scottish rainforests to villages in India that use rain as perfume.

Publisher: Crown  (2015)

 

4. LOOKS LIKE RAIN: 9000 YEARS OF IRISH WEATHER

Romans called Ireland, “Hibernia,” which means “Land of Winter.” This country’s cold and rainy weather actually saved it from Roman invasion.  

[Looks Like Rain: 9000 Years of Irish Weather](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1848891814/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1848891814&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=II7VXMBYSAJFTBNP) , a new book by Damian Corless, explores this and other instances where Ireland’s famously bad weather impacted its history, from creating heavy soil ideal for potatoes to inspiring legends of pots of gold at the end of rainbows.  

Publisher: Collins Press ( 2014)

 

5. CUBA SEEING IN THE RAIN

Sigurgeir Sigurjonsson created a beautiful photo essay, looking at three rainy days in Cuba in his new book, [Cuba Seeing in the rain](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9935918726/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=9935918726&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=ROKVNN4D44ZLPTXF) . Sigurjonsson takes readers from the beach of Varadero into the heart of Havana, showcasing the beauty of the Cuban people, their vintage cars, and their country, especially in the rain.

Publisher: Portfolio.is (2014)

 

6. A WALK IN THE WEST COAST RAIN FOREST

[A Walk in the West Coast Rain Forest](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1320096786/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1320096786&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=PT25FHFOF4MBBV5U)  by Carol Coleman provides a beautiful photographic essay on the West Coast Rain Forest.

Publisher: Blurb (2014)

 

7. ROADTRIP WITH A RAINDROP: 90 DAYS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

It takes 90 days for a raindrop to travel from the head of the Mississippi, in Minnesota, where it begins as a trickling creek, to the Gulf of Mexico, 2400 miles downstream.

Gayle Harper takes us on a journey in her new book, [Roadtrip with a Raindrop: 90 Days Along the Mississippi River](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1938905636/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1938905636&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=HRAV3VAN76NUX5UK), following the adventure of an imaginary raindrop named Serendipity.

The book tells Harper’s story too, as she travels, featuring the many people she encountered along the way who made the journey extra special. The trip takes the reader through dramatic changes in geography, climate, and culture, as the raindrop traverses the midline of the United States.

Publisher: Acclaim Press (2014)

 

8. WEATHER LORE: THE ELEMENTS - CLOUDS, MIST, HAZE, DEW, FOG, RAIN, RAINBOWS

First published in 1893, with gorgeous illustrations, charming proverbs, and fascinating insights, [Weather Lore: The Elements - Clouds, Mist, Haze, Dew, Fog, Rain, Rainbows](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1906506396/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1906506396&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=3QGU6X27354MTQJW), is a beautiful new edition. The book celebrates weather’s expressions, including clouds, mists, haze, dew, fog, rain and rainbows.

This new edition has been completely redesigned and is fully illustrated with reproductions of woodcuts, photographs and drawings throughout.

Publisher: Papadakis Dist A C (2013)

 

9. SPRING: RAINDROPS FALL ALMOST EVERY DAY!

[Spring: Raindrops Fall Almost Every Day!](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1632904594/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1632904594&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=EHZPAM4DCU62WO5N), by Lisa Bell, is a beautiful song and picture children’s about how spring weather changes affect plants, animals, and people. The hardcover book is illustrated by Emily Brooks. It is paired with a music CD and online music access.

Publisher: Cantata Learning (2015)

 

10. RAINFOREST

Rainforests are the earth’s most beautiful, and possibly most complex, ecosystem. Much of it remains a mystery.

Award-winning author Lewis Blackwell and a group of top nature photographers explore, from the forest floor to the leafy canopy in [Rainforest](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419713973/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419713973&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=S76HNG4CFXPFUHH3) . The images are stunning, from aerial to macro views, including new work by photographer Tim Flach.

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams ( 2014)

 

Read more about Beautiful Rain, as they relate to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact.

Enter your own images and ideas about Beautiful Rain in this week’s creative Photo Competition. Open for entries now until 11:59 p.m. PT on 04.12.15. If you are reading this after that date, check out the current BN Creative Competition, and enter!

IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by April Pulley Sayre. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books. [Raindrops Roll](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/148142064X/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=148142064X&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=HYO6EAE2A5JJ7SQ2) .
2. Image: Courtesy of Beach Lane Books. [Raindrops Roll](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/148142064X/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=148142064X&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=HYO6EAE2A5JJ7SQ2) .
3. Image: Courtesy of Sandstone Press Ltd. [The Rainforests of Britain and Ireland](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1910124265/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1910124265&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=7G7IOJKVZAD23YTW).
4. Image: Courtesy of Crown Publishing. [Rain: A Natural and Cultural History](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804137099/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0804137099&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=LDB3ITFO75RUE7SL) .
5. Image: Courtesy of Collins Press. [Looks Like Rain: 9000 Years of Irish Weather](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1848891814/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1848891814&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=II7VXMBYSAJFTBNP) .
6. Image: Courtesy of  Portfolio. [Cuba Seeing in the rain](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9935918726/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=9935918726&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=ROKVNN4D44ZLPTXF) .
7. Image: Courtesy of Blurb. [A Walk in the West Coast Rain Forest](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1320096786/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1320096786&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=PT25FHFOF4MBBV5U) .
8. Image: Courtesy of Acclaim Press. [Roadtrip with a Raindrop: 90 Days Along the Mississippi River](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1938905636/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1938905636&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=HRAV3VAN76NUX5UK).
9. Image: Courtesy of Papadakis Dist A C. [Weather Lore: The Elements - Clouds, Mist, Haze, Dew, Fog, Rain, Rainbows](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1906506396/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1906506396&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=3QGU6X27354MTQJW)(Weather Lore: a Collection of Proverbs, Sayings & Rules Concerning the Weather).
10. Image: Courtesy of Cantata Learning. [Spring: Raindrops Fall Almost Every Day!](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1632904594/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1632904594&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=EHZPAM4DCU62WO5N)
11. Image: Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams. [Rainforest](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419713973/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419713973&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=S76HNG4CFXPFUHH3) .
12. Photo: Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams. Interior image from [Rainforest](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419713973/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419713973&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=S76HNG4CFXPFUHH3) .
13. Photo: Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams. Interior image from [Rainforest](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419713973/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419713973&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=S76HNG4CFXPFUHH3) .
14. Photo: Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams. Interior image from [Rainforest](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419713973/ref=aslitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419713973&linkCode=as2&tag=beauti064-20&linkId=S76HNG4CFXPFUHH3) .