I Caught a Rainbow

I Caught a Rainbow is about a quirky young girl who, indeed, catches a rainbow. In real life, children commonly catch bugs and insects and place them in jars and treat them as if they are domesticated pets. In this fictional story, the young girl does the same thing with a rainbow. First, she places it in a jar and pokes holes in the lid so that the rainbow can breathe. Then, it becomes a beloved friend that she devotes her love and attention to. For a while, the rainbow enjoys being treated like a pet, but there comes a point where the rainbow looks gloomy. Despite the young girl’s efforts, nothing made the rainbow feel better. She knew that, despite how hard it would be to say goodbye, it was time to release the rainbow and set it free again. Once back in the sky, the rainbow beautifully displays itself and gives a sign to the young girl, as if to say, “I love you.”

The message in this story is that sometimes the best way to show something or someone you love them is to let them go. Children’s literature, such as I Caught a Rainbow, can be a useful tool to explain and teach this complex concept to young children. Although the idea of catching a rainbow is abstract, the message within the story is clear. Children who share a strong connection with any living (or nonliving) thing, may find this story serving as a gentle lesson that love isn’t always easy. For this reason, I Caught a Rainbow is recommended as an addition to libraries in family homes, daycares, and elementary schools.

Danielle Chaperon was a primary school teacher prior to becoming an author. Her written stories have been inspired by youth she has worked with. This story could be particularly beneficial for teachers who have class pets, or it could be tied in with curricular outcomes. For example, in the Manitoba grade 2 science curriculum, one cluster is to study “Growth and Changes in Animals”. From my experience, it is engaging and common to teach this cluster through raising butterflies from larvae in the classroom. I Caught a Rainbow would be an excellent choice to read aloud to end this study before freeing the butterflies into nature.

Nathalie Dion’s illustrations enhance the story in a way that is uniquely appealing. Rather than standing out in a way that is bright or vibrant, her style reflects a 60s retro colour palette. She is a graduate from Concordia University in Montreal. Dion has created illustrations worldwide, some of which have been recognized in art competitions.