Rain Perfume

MY THOUGHTS

It is almost a cliche, but every year I wait for that gust of wind, that sudden dip in temperature, and that whiff of perfume to signal the arrival of the monsoon. It may not rain, but the perfume lets everyone around know that the parched earth will finally get relief and that it is time to carry umbrellas for the next few months. With monsoons being such an important part of our country, how do we pass on our love for petrichor and the monsoons to our children?

Rain Perfume by Niveditha Reddy and illustrated by Shubhshree Mathur is an adorable picture book that shows little Boondi waiting for the school bell to signal the end of the day so she can get out of school and catch the rain. She recalls her Thatha telling her about petrichor or the smell of rain being Nature’s Perfume and she wants to bottle some up for him. Along the way she meets all of nature’s creatures who are out to enjoy the rain just as she is! But when she finally reaches home after spending an afternoon in the rain she is eager to get her Thatha to smell her rain perfume but the smell is lost! It is not there in her bottle anymore! Will Boondi be able to find nature’s perfume with Thatha’s help?

Author Niveditha Reddy paints the most authentic picture of a rainy day with insects, puddles, and brings the joy of jumping in muddy puddles alive! Boondi’s hurry to get out of school to experience the rain is something we can all relate to. I love how in the middle of playing she remembers something Thatha said and immediately her mind goes to doing something nice for him. Reddy manages to capture the true essence of a rainy day from our childhood in this book.

Shubhshree Mathur’s illustrations are so beautiful you can almost smell the petrichor. She covers the book in dark browns, oranges, and greens to transport us to a wet, rainy day. We see the earthworms and snails from the perspective of a child. Her innocence and empathy as she captures rain’s perfume while enjoying a rainy day is almost infectious and leaves the reader with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

This is a book that will fit right into your child’s monsoon selection of books. Read this just before the rains and have a conversation about the creatures that also come out to enjoy the season. Talk about rain perfume and the unique fragrance. Perfect also to gift young kids who particularly love the rains. This is a beautiful book to add to your child’s collection. Curl up with it and read on cosy, rainy afternoons.