The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

A Rainy Day

Listen to Rhiannon Oliver and Alys Madison reading the poem
What to do with a rainy day?
Stay in the house and hide away?

No! Pop on some wellies and zip up your jacket,
Put some snacks in a waterproof packet
And head out into the rainy weather -
The rain wants to have some fun together!

Say "Hello" to the rain, say "So nice to meet you!"
Let the rain know that she’s totally free to
Land on your face, your elbows, your tum,
Hold out your hands and stick out your tongue.

Dance as she falls and waters the world,
Picture by Neil Black
Picture by Neil Black

Spin all around, twist, whirl and twirl.
And this bit’s important, don’t get in a muddle -
You must go and seek out a gigantic puddle…

Because jumping in puddles is a gift from the rain!
Land with a splash and then do it again.
Splooshing and sploshing and thudding about
Is the best fun ever, of that there’s no doubt.

And please, don’t be scared of getting quite wet,
You’ve been wet in the bath before, I bet.


About Neil Black, the illustrator: Neil is a teacher by day and illustrator by night as well as juggling being a dad to three, a husband and a puppy owner! Based in Northamptonshire, he has an ambition to illustrate a children’s book one day.

About the Writer


Rhiannon Oliver

Rhiannon is an actress, poet, workshop facilitator and playgroup leader based in Cardiff. She started writing for children in 2021 and has been published in The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon, Northern Gravy, Paperbound, Little Thoughts Press, Parakeet, Buzgaga, and Launchpad (Australia). She has publications forthcoming in multiple anthologies. She has also written and created performance videos for The Big Welsh Rhyme Time (Book Trust Cymru) and her poetry has appeared on TV (Only Boys Aloud Christmas Concert, S4C). She is part of Literature Wales' Representing Wales 2023 scheme and is currently developing her first collection for children which explores Mental Health and Well-being.