A drought threatens to force Sosi's family to move from their canyon, unless she can bring rain with her dancing.

"When rain comes to the parched African savanna, the animals use all their senses to track the storm. The porcupine smells rain in the air. The zebras see lightning. The baboons hear thunder. The rhino feels the first drops. And the lion tastes the cool water. For a time, the grasslands abound with new green leaves, juicy fruits, and fresh pools of water. But soon the hot sun dries out the land, and the animals must again wait for the next big rain."...

A young boy watches and listens as the Rain Train takes him on a ride past city lights, over rivers, and through tunnels one rainy night.

Rhyming text and illustrations depict the swell and quieting of a storm.