One does not so much read this book as walk respectfully and delightedly through it. It opens vertically, allowing for many tall, evocative illustrations and for sequences of smaller scenes. Along with Little Monk, we enter the woods, the canyon, the rainstorm at the monastery porch. The tale is told in present tense, and the calligraphic font adds to this sense of calm absorption.
Little Monk, who has lived at the temple since he was born, sometimes gets laughed at because he cannot read — but this does not stop him from smiling. One rainy day, feeling restless, he visit Old Monk, who is busy writing calligraphy. Old Monk teaches Little Monk the ink traces for the word "rain," and slowly Little Monk starts to calm down.
"Rain" becomes the word that Little Monk writes every single day, each time freshly, respectful of that day's unique place and energy. Twenty years later, when he has become Big Monk, a cry for help reaches the monastery during a terrible drought. Can the monks — and in particular Big Monk — find a way to let rain fall again?
We are bowled away by the beauty — natural and spiritual — of this book. And we want to give a special shout-out to the translator, Rachel Wang Yung-Hsin. She captures not only the spirit of the book yet is also impeccable with details: for instance, the emperor of the drought-ridden lands "is sweating buckets" when the heat bears down on him and he has no idea what to do. The image of him dripping with sweat contrasts with that of the needed raindrops, and his panic contrasts with Little Monk's composure.
Taiwanese author and illustrator Hsu-Kung Liu, who gifted us with this book, once thought, "Is it possible for the pictures or words we create to become real?" The story addresses that theme, but amazingly, so does the book itself. One comes away changed and quieted by reading it. In his closing note, he offers this moving perspective on what some call "learning disabilities": " 'Normal people' might think [Little Monk] is useless to society, just because he can't read or write except one word. But in a time of crisis, the only word he has written becomes the real rain falling down. It's amazing!" He cannot learn any scriptures, so his writing of the word "rain" becomes "a kind a rebellion against the traditional religion, finding a way to pray by himself."
The age range suggested for Little Monk Writes Rain — 8 to 11 — will not let you know that once we finished it, we ran to find the other adult in the household and share it. It would make an exquisite gift to anyone you know who appreciates nature, gentleness, sanity, calm ... and great literature.
