Get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
Table of Contents
About The Book
A stormy afternoon and an order from Mom to stay inside are no match for this little dreamer, who uses everyday household items—a rocket chair, a cardboard box, an old dish rag, and a super-duper imagination—to whip up a trip around the universe he won’t soon forget.
My Rainy Day Rocket Ship is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the imagination of Black boys who use their beautiful minds to transform the mundane into the extraordinary, dream out loud, and boldly go where their sky is the only limit.
About The Illustrator
Charly Palmer, a graduate of the American Academy of Art, is a nationally recognized fine artist whose work is in private and public collections, including those of McDonald’s Corporation, the Coca-Cola Company, and Vanderbilt University. His illustrative work for Mama Africa! earned him the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator of the Year award. Palmer’s art is inspired by his children and grandchildren. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Product Details
- Publisher: Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (May 5, 2020)
- Length: 40 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534461789
- Ages: 4 - 8
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"The illustrations love this black family, highlighting the glow of their skin and luxuriating in the narrator's abundant, textured curls. The lavish application of paint—broader than in most picture books—means this will show especially well in a group setting. Rhythmic storytelling and gorgeous illustrations make this a delight." - Kirkus
"Boredom is the mother of invention in this playful story. Using rhyming and near-rhyming text, Sheppard tells the story of a young boy who plans an imaginary voyage to outer space. His fond parents come to cheer on the launch, and then it’s off to bed for the little one. The verse brims with childlike enthusiasm...Thick expressionist lines and swirls in Palmer’s illustrations create a lively effect, particularly in images of the boy, who has dark skin, and his family." - School Library Journal
Awards and Honors
- Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year Selection Title
- CLEL Bell Picture Book Award (CO)
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): My Rainy Day Rocket Ship Fixed Layout eBook 9781534461789
- Author Photo (jpg): Markette Sheppard courtesy of the author(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit