"This is ultimately a tale of hope, but also one of struggle, courage and endurance, qualities warmly conveyed by the co-operation of words and pictures." - Books for Keeps

"This is a remarkably beautiful picture story book. The quietly poetic nature of the prose is magically enhanced by the brilliantly atmospheric and quietly moving illustrations. As with all the best of books for young children, it has the power to speak loudly to readers right across the human age range". - School Librarian

"A beautifully written story that is poetic and descriptive… Lila and the Secret of Rain is a wonderfully simple and realistic way of conveying to children how water is as vital to our lives as it is to a Kenyan village, where water is life."- INIS

"Set in Kenya with beautiful illustrations that have a sparse, descriptive elegance and a text that is simple and lyrical." - CMIS

"...Jude Daly’s evocative illustrations give a real feel for the unrelenting African sun"-Book of the Month LCC

"In its elegantly understated way, this book gets to the heart of the ongoing struggle of man against nature, and the power of one child's belief that she can make a difference."- Shelf Awareness

"...this is a beautifully illustrated tale that will easily serve as an introduction to the importance of water and a catalyst for discussion of water shortages in Africa."-Kirkus Reviews

"This is a beautifully illustrated and simple book."- Write Away

"This quiet story offers inspiration and hope. Readers will sigh with relief to see the rain and will cheer with the villagers as they celebrate."- School Library Journal

"The carefully shaped text-folkloric in its minimalism-is as spare as the landscape itself and every bit as beautiful."- Parents' Choice Foundation

"Using magic rooted in realism, the author tells the poignant story of one child who saves her world."- Booklist

"Crisp, fluent prose and spare expressive illustrations combine to create powerful images of a sun-blasted landscape in theis eloquent and ultimately celebratory fable about the vital relationship between human beings and nature." - Carousel

"...a memorable story."-Wirral Libraries

"Each word in this story is thoughtfully placed in terms of rhythm, and the lyrical quality of his words is perfectly matched by illustrator Jude Daly."- Suite101

For months the sun has burned down on Lila's Kenyan village. It is too hot to gather firewood, too hot to weed the garden, even too hot to milk the cow. Without rain the well will run dry and the crops will fail. Lila is so worried that when her grandfather whispers to her the secret of rain, she decides to go and talk to the sky herself. How Lila saves the village by telling the sky the saddest thing she knows is told in David Conway's elegant and spare prose style, which is complemented perfectly by Jude Daly's beautiful and poignant illustrations.