The Umbrella
By Carrie Kingsley,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Rain turns into wonder in a lovely, uplifting picture book.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In THE UMBRELLA, a young girl is surrounded by dreary weather, gray buildings, and people moping around in the gloom. But her dog needs a daily walk, so out she goes, even in the rain. She takes shelter in a shop, gets curious about what's inside, and finds something that changes her mood and transforms the town with brightness.
Is It Any Good?
The combination of simple words and friendly illustrations welcomes young readers in to a world that encourages them to persevere through hard times and be open to optimism and adventure. The Umbrella is a great reminder to get up off the couch when things feel gloomy, and that the mere act of putting one foot in front of the other can change your outlook. The colors and characters' expressions delightfully set the mood in this wonderful read-aloud, and it's full of great sight words for emerging readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what experiences have turned out differently than they started out, like the girl's walk in The Umbrella. What has started out a little gray and then turned bright?
How can you help someone else when things look gloomy?
What other books have you read that make you optimistic?
Book Details
- Author: Beth Ferry
- Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Curiosity, Perseverance
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Clarion Books
- Publication date: March 21, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 48
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: March 23, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Picture Books
Jerry Craft's Picks: Uplifting Books About Black and Brown Kids
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate