Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, A Nandi Tale by Verna Aardema

It’s always fun to read a children’s book that contains a thoughtful message and great pictures to brighten your imagination while also teaching children the importance of our earth’s greatest resources.  Welcome to the world of Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, A Nandi Tale by Verna Aardema.  The brief tale is based on folklore from South Africa regarding the plains that contained wild animals and farming.  The plains were gorgeous, full of beauty, greenery, flowers, flowing rivers, and animals who lived the land fully. Then came the drought!  Everything started to turn brown, animals fled the area, or started to die.  But young Ki-pat who watched the herd was not to be deterred.  His animals were hungry and he was unsure what to do, until an eagle flew by and dropped a feather close to where he was standing.  Ki-pat made a bow and took the feather to make an arrow of it as he believed this was a feather to help change the weather.  So he aimed it at a passing cloud - BAM, he hit the cloud, out clapped the thunder and down came the rain, and it kept coming down.  It changed the color of the grass, back to green, the riverbanks flowed, and the animals could start to eat again.  Everything changed back to what it was, which led to Ki=pat finding a wife, and having a little Ki=pat son of his own, who in turn watched the herd.   A true “circle of life” story!  The message of nature helping itself is right on target!  Great for little children and adults to remember how important and precious the rain is for us.