A big book about a little cloud, Kumo the bashful cloud by Kyo Maclear and Nathalie Dion will having you looking skyward.

Kumo is a little cloud in a big wide sky. She is called into duty when really she would like to just blend into the background.

There have been many lovely picture books about clouds of late. They always have such a dreamy and calm quality. Kumo can certainly be added to that same list. It’s a comforting story, perfect for a read aloud or bedtime when readers need to settle their brains and rest. Kyo Maclear, a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society, slips in the science of clouds along the way. Kumo could easily be used by teachers whose readers are examining the water cycle or cloud formations.

The text of the story is simple and clear. Kyo Maclear is direct in her writing making this a story even the youngest readers will enjoy. Although the book looks large and long, it is quite deceiving. The large format makes it perfect to share with a crowd and the simple, well spaced text on each two page spread keeps the story moving along and allows for many more illustrations.

Nathalie Dion’s illustrations are perfectly matched to the text. The pictures are light and airy with a dreamy quality, providing that same sense of calm evoked by Kyo Maclear’s words.