When Cloud became a Cloud by Rob Hodgson

"The sky is empty. The lake is full of water. Look! Here comes our friend, Sun. Sun works hard all day to warm up the lake. Some of the water droplets in the lake get so hot that they float into the sky to cool off. Soon, the sky is full of water droplets enjoying the cool air."

This book will totally change your ideas about the water cycle. This is a simply perfect non fiction book for a young child told in nine short chapters with chapter headings such as wind, fog, the storm and rainbow. The School Library journal reviewer summed this up perfectly "the science is serious, the explanations cheerful."

There are wonderful parts in the design of this book such as the rainbow end papers and the surprises under the dust jacket. It seems a pity this will need to be covered up when this book goes into the library. The fluffy white cloud on the cover and the storm cloud on the back cover are tactile - they feel a little like sandpaper.

This photo shows the front cover and the illustration under the jacket

Here is the back cover

Rob Hodgson is a British designer, illustrator and writer.

Publisher Blurb: Meet Cloud! Follow along as she moves, transforms, precipitates, and more in this charming and humorous portrayal of the water cycle. The life cycle of our protagonist, Cloud, is delightfully and sparsely narrated in nine short chapters that follow the stages of the water cycle. Young readers will immediately fall for this wide-eyed puff, and welcome facts along with humour and personality as they bask in the accomplishment of breezing through each chapter.

You can see some of the art from the book here. All schools have science lessons about the water cycle and there are other books on this topic but When Cloud became a Cloud will give your young readers a very accessible explanation of this process we see in action every day. There is a lot going on in the water cycle - evaporation, precipitation, snow, rain, rainbows, thunder and lightning. This book would make an excellent addition to any primary school library. 

A breezy, buoyant bucketful of atmospheric basics. Kirkus

A simplified but terrific tale, perfect for beginning readers or anyone seeking an exciting and funny science story. School Library Journal

I am keen to see some other books illustrated by Rob Hodgson:

Here is another water cycle book which I really like: