It is time to plant the rice crop in Malini's Sri Lankan community, and the little girl is both excited and nervous to help for the first time. What if she does it wrong? Will she be responsible if the crop fails? When the oxcart rumbles in loaded with seedlings, she reluctantly agrees to watch the big, imposing animal while the driver takes a break. Suddenly, the skies go dark with monsoon rain. A flash flood pours down the road, separating Malini from the driver and her family. They are shouting for her to run for higher ground, but what about the rice? Summoning up courage she never dreamed she possessed, Malini resolves to save ox, cart, and seedlings, no matter what it takes. Award-winning author Alma Fullerton tells Malini's story in expressive free verse that vibrates with emotion and energy. The moods of Sri Lanka's rainy season come alive as Kim La Fave, illustrator of the award-winning Shin Chi's Canoe, uses a fresh style that is both contemporary and impressionistic to depict the courage of one little girl facing the power of a flash flood.

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Notable Children's Books category by the American Library Association Awards. It was recognised in the Best Books for Kids & Teens category by the Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards. It also was recognised by the Usbby Oustanding International Books. It was recognised by the South Asia Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Also it was recognised in the Blogger Betsy Bird's Picture Books Selection category by the School Library Journal Awards. It was recognised in the Blogger Betsy Bird's Books I'M Really Looking Forward to category by the School Library Journal Awards. It was recognised in the Global Books to Teach Global Understanding category by the School Library Journal Awards. It was recognised by the Resource Links the Year's Best.

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2016 by Pajama Press .

Award-winning illustrator Kim LaFave has illustrated many books for children including Big Ben , We'll All Go series and the early readers Emma's Emu , Andrew's Magnificent Mountain of Mittens and Andrew - Catch That Cat! . Kim lives with his family in Roberts Creek, British Columbia Alma Fullerton's free-verse novels for juvenile and young adult readers have earned her multiple nominations and awards, including the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award and the CLA Book of the Year Honour. Her first picture book, A Good Trade, has been a White Ravens Choice, a Bank Street Best Book, and a nominee for the OLA Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award and the Kentucky Bluegrass Awards. Alma lives in Midland, Ontario. Brian Deines is a fine artist and the award-winning illustrator of over 20 children's books, including A Bear in War, Bear on the Homefront, The Road to Afghanistan, and On a Snowy Night. Dragonfly Kites, part of a trilogy written by Tomson Highway, was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for illustration and the Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award. A graduate of the Alberta College of Art, Brian lives in Toronto, Ontario with his wife and daughter.