Lizzy and the Cloud by The Fan Brothers

"The clouds bobbed gently up and down and with every breath of wind. Some were puffy and round. Others were wispy and almost-not-there. There was a parrot, a rabbit, a fish and an elephant ... But Lizzy wanted an ordinary cloud."

Lizzy names her cloud Milo. He comes with a set of instructions:

1. Name your cloud.

2. Water your cloud daily using only fresh clean water. Failure to do so may result in your cloud evaporating into thin air.

5. Clouds are sensitive and sometimes moody. Thunderstorms are possible if a cloud is unhappy.

6. Never confine a cloud to a small space.

Disclaimer: Seller is not responsible for any water damage due to carelessness or neglect.

Lizzy is so caring of Milo. They go for walks in the sun and Milo really enjoys rainy days too. The trouble is Milo is growing bigger and bigger. Go back and read rule 5. Then read rule 6. 

"Lizzy knew it was time. Milo needed to float free."

"Whenever the weather was cloudy, Lizzy would think of Milo. And if she ever spotted a particularly fluffy cloud, she would wave ... just in case."

When you read this book you need to notice the wonderful architectural details; the quirky photo gallery end papers; the rich vocabulary (gazebos, hosiery, disclaimer, orchids, tantrum, regretful, and confine); and the very detailed page with no text (a silent page that says so much and gives the reader a place to pause and consider what might happen to Lizzy and Milo). You may want to buy a yellow raincoat and yellow rain boots after reading this book and you are certain to take just a little more notice of clouds in the sky - I know I did this for days after reading Lizzy and the Cloud. 

This ending when Lizzy lets Milo go made me think of:

Laura's Star

My Pet Star

Star in the Jar

A tiny part of my soul is in love with The Fan Brothers (can someone tell them I would love to meet them one day - please). My own bookshelves are bulging but I just had to purchase Lizzy and the Cloud to add to my collection. This book should be added to every school library alongside all of the other special books by Eric and Terry Fan. You can see Eric and Terry in this video from their publisher.

Accompanying the text are stunning full-page illustrations that’ll have readers both young and old devouring each luscious detail. Some spreads are in black and white with just a single pop of colour, most often yellow. Others leap off the page with every colour of the rainbow. This shift from one to the other evokes a wide-eyed wonder that’ll keep readers fully engaged in the story. Quill and Quire

The approachable yet heartfelt text beautifully explores a complicated theme: knowing when to let go of something you love. While this concept can often be a painful one, the Fans deftly explore the fulfillment in doing the right thing for something or someone you love by allowing them to move on, and in enjoying the memories of your time together, even when they are bittersweet. The Baby Bookworm

I see this text being used interdisciplinary in reading, science, and art. It will make a wonderful read aloud! ... I’d then use the book in science to discuss the science of clouds–Milo will be a great cloud example! Finally, students could draw their own cloud balloons! Unleashing Readers (note this link has discussion questions)

Here are some other books by The Fan Brothers. I plan to talk about The Barnabus Project very soon:

Ocean Meets Sky

It Fell from the Sky

Here are two other wonderful books about clouds:

Clouds (a very old book but one of my most favourites)

When Cloud became a Cloud

Little Robin Red Vest by Jan Fearnley

Day 10
Just by chance I have found another book about the robin. I also have a good friend called Robin!

You gave away all your warm clothes to help other people. 

You are full of the spirit of Christmas.

Little Robin prepares for the cold weather ahead. It is one week before Christmas so he washes and irons seven vests in different colours. He puts on his white vest and sets off to skate on the pond where he meets a very cold frog. He kindly gives the frog his white vest. It will be alright - he has six more at home. And so the pattern is established. Counting down the days, and the vests, Little Robin meets a different cold forest animal each day. Pink for Mole, Green for Hedgehog. Blue for Rabbit and so on.  Until finally there are no vests left. What Little Robin does not know is that someone has noticed his kindness and generosity. Little Robin falls asleep in the snow with no vest to keep him warm. Two hands pick him up. They are Santa's hands.

"This is the generous little fellow I told you about,' the man said to his wife. 'He must have a very special present then,' she replied. And with the Little Robin snug and cosy in her lap, the lady set to work."

Little Robin Red Vest feels like a fable and now we know how the Robin got his little red vest!

This book was published in 1998 but I am pleased to see it has been re-issued to celebrate its 20th anniversary by Nosy Crow.  Here is a video of the whole book read by Emilia Fox.

With so much emphasis on receiving, Little Robin Red Vest reminds us that the thing which will leave us warm inside is giving to those in true need. The animals Robin gives to are without warm clothes. This would make a lovely, gentle introduction to the difference between need and want, and the difficult fact that a lot of people are currently going without the things they need. Book Murmurmation

This charming story is a real heart-warmer and has a lovely traditional vibe. It could become an annual family favourite and has an Aesop’s fable feel to it that makes it really memorable. Book Trust

Heartwood Hotel: The Greatest Gift by Kallie George illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

"All those nights worrying about a gift and working on the rug. It seemed so important. But it wasn't really. Friends were important. Friends and food and the Heartwood. Those were the biggest gifts."

A few days ago I talked about the first installment in the Heartwood Hotel series - A True Home. Over the weekend my friend gave me the second book - The Greatest Gift and the third book - Better Together.

Often the second book in a series can be disappointing BUT this is absolutely not the case here. I enjoyed The Greatest Gift even more than A True Home.  In this second story it is Winter. Most of the guests are safely tucked away downstairs hibernating. After competing her chores Mona joins in the St Slumber festivities and watches as gifts are given to all the Heartwood Hotel staff. Mona is given a new apron with a tiny heart sewn on the front pocket, a cheese crumble covered in blueberry sauce, a subscription to the Pinecone Press, and a "walnut case, like the one she had lost in the fall."

"This cannot replace the one you lost,' Mr Heartwood said, 'nor is it a case with which to roam. It's a place to store your things, now that the Heartwood is your home."

Mona now puzzles over the gifts she can give to her new friends. A new and very grand guest arrives at the hotel - a rabbit called Duchess Hazeline. She is very bossy and demanding and announces that wants a carpet for her room - the penthouse - she tells Mona she must deliver the beautiful one from the lobby.

"The rug was an important part of the lobby. It was made from tree moss, a beautiful minty green, and it was the first thing you saw when you came into the Heartwood."

The rug is delivered as requested along with the delicious crumble which was only just given to Mona. The Duchess is horrified that this is a gift for Mona and she flings the crumble onto the floor. The beautiful rug is ruined.  Mona is so upset but she is also a problem solver. She decides to make a new rug as a gift to everyone at the Heartwood.

While all of this is going on it seems someone is taking their food. A thief has been sneaking around the storeroom and supplies are dwindling and then a further disaster strikes. Their supply shipment is stuck in a snowbank.  Mona will once again save the day. She discovers the truth about the thief, finds and rescues the shipment and best of all helps the Duchess to own up to her bad temper and take on a better role in the forest.

You will be rewarded if you can read these books in order but they can also sand alone which is good news for young readers impatient to find the next book.

You might also enjoy The Vegetable Thieves by Inga Moore (sadly out of print).  You can read about book three - Better Together here.

Rino Alaimo's The boy who loved the moon

"Many years ago, one night in June, the lights of the city went out, one by one, until only a single light illuminated the sky."

This is the light of the moon.  The moon captures the heart of a  lonely boy. He longs to show the moon his love.  He collects a beautiful rose, a deep sea pearl and the diamond eye of a dragon.  Each gift is rejected although not too harshly.  What gift can the boy give the moon?

It seems odd to mention this but today with our Kindergarten classes we read Happy Birthday Moon by Frank Asch.  This is a much simpler book but it is also contains an deeply felt expression of love for the moon.

One of my annual joys is to attend Little Big Shots - a festival of children's short films.  Last year I saw this little film and I was entranced.  Then I discovered this special book made by the film maker. If you are looking for a text and film to explore with a senior class take a look at The Boy who loved the moon.  You could then look at this review which compares the book and the film.

One reviewer likened this book to The Giving Tree.  With a younger class you might also look at Papa Please get the moon for me, Sarah's Heavy Heart and Laura's Star.

Mr Putter and Tabby fly the plane by Cynthia Rylant

I am so excited when I find a very simple junior book for beginning readers with a marvelous story. It does not happen very often but here is one I read about in Horn Book. There are about 18 different books about Mr Putter and we have just begun to collect them for our library.

In this one Mr Putter and Tabby fly the plane we learn that Mr Putter loves toys (so do I) and he especially loves to visit toy shops (so do I) and when he was a boy he was fascinated by toy planes especially remote control ones (me too!).

Mr Putter finds the exact plane of his childhood dreams, he buys it, flys it and along the way acquires a heap of new young friends. The most special part of this book comes right at the end.

One little shy outsider child loves this plane. Mr Putter recognises something of himself in this little boy. Look for Mr Putter in our school library. These books are perfect for our youngest students who are just beginning to gain confidence with reading.