by Laura Krauss Melmed, Illustrated by Jim LaMarche, 1992
Children’s book about a sweet old couple who lack nothing except a child. They go out on a moonlit night after a rain and find 12 babies. They care for them and save them through flood, fire, and wild animal dangers. Then a messenger comes with a jewel that would provide them with riches the rest of their lives but they refuse to sell the babies. Then the messenger turns into a beautiful woman and she takes the rainbabies but leaves them a real baby girl. They name her Rayna and they live happily ever after.
Well, this is sweet but gives the wrong message to childless couples – that they aren’t good enough to have a child. The beautiful woman even says to them:
“What loyal and loving caretakers you have been! You protected them from dangers born of water, fire, and earth. You refused the offer of great riches to keep the babies with you. You have proven yourselves the worthiest of parents. … And do not fear–I will not leave you lonely. See what I have brought for you!”
Here’s how the book-a-day calendar described this book:
“Bedtime Stories, A Love Story for Parents and Toddlers: A childless couple discovers 12 tiny babies in the raindrops of a spring moonshower. They nurture and protect them with love, luck, and courage. When Mother Moonshower comes to reclaim her dozen progeny, she bears an extraordinary gift for the wife and her husband. In The Rainbabies, Laura Krauss Melmed has told her beautiful story so well that one reads it with awe and joy. Jim LaMarche’s paintings are perfectly matched to the tenor of the tale. It’s a book that deserves to become a family heirloom.”
If only all parents were as loving and caring to their children as this old couple was to their 12 little rainbabies. If only all parents were as deserving of the children they have been gifted by God. The illustrations are beautiful.