The World from Here by Cassy Polimeni illustrated by Mel Armstrong

Blurb: Milo lies in the grass watching cottony cumulus clouds transform into animals. Maya looks out a plane window and marvels at the sky outside and the shapes countries make below. Through their different perspectives, Milo and Maya remind us that there are countless ways to experience the world.

Here is a new word for today - Nephology - the study of clouds.

This book combines a narrative interspersed with facts about clouds. There is a glossary and a fact page to extend your child's understanding of weather, cloud names, thunderstorms, and the ways weather can affect us.

Thanks to CSIRO Publishing for sending a review copy of The World from Here. Check out the teachers notes here. 

• Explores the sciences that help us understand our world, and the wonders that make living here on Earth so rewarding.
• Presents scientific facts on weather, geometry, astronomy and patterns in nature in an accessible and engaging way.

There are also terrific opportunities of further things to explore after reading this book such as mushrooms, frogs, Pangea, clouds on Mars, the constellations, and shapes in nature such as fractals, tessellations and spirals. This book could also open up a discussion about ways to cope if a child is afraid during a thunderstorm. 

It is an accessible and engaging introduction to Earth Sciences that will inspire curious readers aged 4 and up to learn more about the environment. Books and Publishing

Things look different from up here, with Earth spread out below like a giant quilt.

See more pages inside this book here.

My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything talks about Cloud Appreciation Day but you could celebrate clouds any time. I think this topic might be covered in our school syllabus documents but with your preschool group or younger grade you could easily enjoy exploring clouds and books about clouds as a part of a mini unit. Here are a few of my favourite books about clouds:

This is very very old - Clouds by Peggy Blakeley

Cloud Atlas

Lizzy and the Cloud (this is a must-read book for every child)

When cloud became a cloud

Cassy Polimeni is a children’s author and freelance editor whose stories celebrate our connection with nature and the environment, and the relationship between science and wonder.

Here are some of her books:

Mel Armstrong is an illustrator from New Zealand. Here are some of her previous books:

Clouds, Waves and Wind by Sarah Zambello illustrated by Susy Zanella

Reading Time: There is so much to look at, read about and think about on each page that this book could not be read-through in one sitting. It is a book to return to over and over again, learning a little more each time and gradually coming to appreciate the long history of love and curiosity humanity has had with the sea. The production and design are handsome, professional, and irresistible.

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition across the seas to discover why the ocean has always fascinated us. Ride over wild seas and calm waters. Learn about currents, tides and how to classify waves. Be awestruck by the power of the ocean.

I spied one book from this series in a city bookstore and I was hooked. If I was still purchasing books for my school library I would most certainly add these three titles. The Wave Atlas for example would be so perfect for my previous school which is located in a coastal suburb - as you might imagine surfing is a very popular sport and I am sure the students are quite expert on the topic of waves. Thames and Hudson always produce books of the highest quality. The retail price of these books is AUS$35 but I have found copies online for around AUS$28. The author and illustrator are both from Italy.  Each book has 80 pages and are aimed at readers aged 8+. 

Here are the Italian titles: Nuvolario. Atlante delle nuvole (Clouds); Ondario. I movimenti del mare (Waves); Ventario. Le Scale dei Venti (Wind); and one we don't have in English yet about Snow - Nevario. Le forme della neve. There is also one about Comets in Italian.  I love the cover of the waves book:

As with Cloud Atlas, the same creative duo behind Wave Atlas somehow manages to bring the concept of waves alive. Enticing snippets of historical information weave throughout the text while real images and artwork distil together leaving no doubt as to the many moods and forces the ocean is capable of assuming. Kids' Book Review

Here are the other two titles:

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition through the atmosphere to learn about the world's air currents. Discover ways to measure the wind's force and learn how air pressure systems affect the weather. Float on gentle breezes, sway as the wind picks up and get blown away by a gale force. It's time to get swept up by the power of the wind.

Cloud Atlas takes this scientific obsession up a level or atmosphere as it were. Presenting as a benign coffee table type book, this beautiful collection of clouds speaks to Nephophiles (lovers of all things cloudy) and curious kids alike. Kids' Book Review

Reading Time: Clouds are with us nearly every day, offering us moods, shade, beauty, and fascinating shapes that prompt our imaginations. Sarah Zambello’s Cloud Atlas is an introduction for children, offering scientific, artistic and historical answers to all the questions they might have about clouds. Each page is comprehensively illustrated, either schematically or realistically, in gentle blues, whites and sunset or sunrise colours.

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition across the sky to discover why clouds have always fascinated us. Enjoy blazing sunsets, raging storms, bright blue skies and inky nights while learning the different types of clouds and what kind of weather you can expect from each variation.

It's time to see the skies with new eyes.

I am a bit crazy about clouds - I joined the Facebook group The Cloud Appreciation Society where people post photos of the most amazing clouds. And one of my most favourite books (long long out of print and very old) is this one:

Clouds

The Cloud Thief by James Nicol

"Mara had heard the old tales of the world before the Great Shift but she'd never seen anything that showed what the skies had once been like, when clouds were everywhere. It made her heart ache with sadness that she would never see a sky like it. Her skies would only ever be cloudless, brilliant blue or dusty yellow when a sandstorm rolled in."

Mara's town is called Withering-on-the-Sand-Sea. You might think of UK towns with names like Burnham-on-Sea; Saltburn by the Sea; Gorelston on Sea; and Southend on Sea. Withering was once by the sea but now the sea is just an endless horizon of sand. Water is essential for life. Clouds give us water - it is a basic part of the all-important water cycle - but for this town and others in the area ther are no clouds. There is however, a cloud factory. The town is forced to buy a cloud every few weeks and it seems the price is rising and the quality of the cloud and hence the rain is noticeably reduced. Also, the word wither means to dry up from lack of water.

"It was the first cloud that had been delivered to Withering-on-the Sand-Sea in over four months. ... (They) followed their friends and neighbours across the gorge bridge and then up, up, up the sloping hill to Clifftop farm where the clouds were always delivered. Where they were most needed. Where they did the most good."

But first the cloud must be paid for and this time it has been a huge struggle to gather enough grain and vegetables to satisfy the attendants. As the payment is inspected, Mara notices the mayor also gives the head cloud attendant a small purse of coins. Why? Finally, the moment arrives to release the cloud:

"It was a plump little cloud, but something about it didn't look quite right to Mara. The colour was off; it was neither brilliant white nor dark grey, which was how most clouds delivered to Withering looked."

Mara only has her father Old Bern. Lately he has become unwell with a sickness called the Thwart. Mara overhears a conversation that this can be cured with a piece of cloud. Mara is desperate to help Bern so she stows away, with her pet squirrel Fidget, in the cloud carriage and heads away to the cloud factory.

What will Mara discover there? Will she be able to snatch a piece of precious cloud? And who is that new young cloud attendant - Evie Bainbridge? Is she trustworthy. Take a look at some of the labels I have assigned to this post - corruption, journeys, and magical realism - these might give you a hint about what is about to unfold. Oh, and you are sure to also love the cloud named Brume and Mara's new and wonderful friend Eban and I do need to mention the Skirex (they can fly) and especially the young Skirex named Caleus. 

You can read the first chapter here. Listen to an audio sample from page 3 to 11. You could listen along while reading the text. This might be a great way to introduce this book to your library group or class. I highly recommend The Cloud Thief for readers aged 9+ or you could add this to your family read-aloud list. This is one of those books where every chapter ends with a cliff hanger and so you just keep turning the pages unable to stop reading. 

A gorgeously cosy fantasy novel from the acclaimed author of The Apprentice Witch series and The Spell Tailors – perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and Diana Wynne Jones.

Mara lives with her father in a drought-stricken village, where rain comes at a price controlled by powerful cloud-makers. Without enough water, the village crops, animals and people will continue to suffer.  ... A spellbinding new fantasy from the acclaimed author of the Apprentice Witch trilogy and The Spell Tailors. Set in a unique magical world, where clouds are made, bought, and sold. For fans of Studio Ghibli and Diana Wynne Jones – with an eco twist! Explores important themes such as climate change, animal rights and inequality in an engaging child-friendly and accessible way. Love Reading4Kids

When you see a book published by Chicken House (UK) take my advice - it will be well worth reading. Luckily here in Australia Chicken House books often appeal on Scholastic Book Club brochures which is how I came to find this book in the Book Bunker library at Westmead Children's Hospital.

I previously enjoyed this book by James Nicol:

The Spell Tailors

Ruby's Sword by Jacqueline Véissid illustrated by Paola Zakimi

Ruby would love to play with her two brothers but they keep either ignoring or rebuffing her. Then she finds three sword shaped sticks in the grass. 

"I found dragon fighting swords!' she announced. Her brothers jumped down to take a closer look. Ruby granted them each a sword."

Two swords, two boys - Ruby is excluded again so she sets off to make her own games. With her trusty sword she spears some apples from a tall tree and then she fights against the wind and rumbling clouds. She catches a wind blown sheet off the clothes line and builds a tent. Her brothers arrive to see what she is doing. Can they play too? Ruby is not sure. Click Clack was all they heard. The boys head off and return with some "honourable offerings of twigs, rocks and dandelions" and the three children begin a wonderful game of knights and castles.

Zakimi’s beautifully illustrated double-page spreads capture Ruby’s bouncy bob, the anger in her eyes, and the windy, leaf-strewing storm. Kirkus

This is a wonderful book to share with young children about relationships between siblings and more importantly about imaginative play. It might inspire you to go outside and hunt for sword sticks for your own game of knight, dragons and castles. I have a Pinterest of picture books about using your imagination. Ruby's Sword was published in 2019 and while it is available here in Australia it is quite expensive which is very disappointing. Update I did find a discount book seller (11th April 2023) with copies for just AUS$15 but you would need to act quickly. 

Take a look inside Ruby's Sword. Here is the image under the dust jacket - I do love books where removing the dust jacket reveals a surprise.

Here are some quotes from Happily Ever Elephants about imaginative play:

Kids learn empathy by taking on new personas and stepping into another’s shoes. They explore scary situations while nestled in safe spaces. They experiment with language when they act as parents or teachers, or, even better, when they make up their own languages while pretending to be animals or fairies. They even learn to problem solve when they determine how build a castle or how to perfect a jump shot high enough to knock down a star.

So often, we underestimate the power of play. Yet it is play – pretend play, imaginative play, playing “make-believe” – that helps our children make sense of their worlds. Kids learn not just by doing, but by imagining.

Ruby's Sword is a debut picture book by US Author Jacquelin Véissid. The illustrations are by Paola Zakimi comes from Argentina.  She also illustrated Teddy and Co. by Cynthia Voigt - please note very sadly this book is not available in Australia. I am not sure why. 

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

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:

Clouds by Peggy Blakeley illustrated by Kazuo Niizaka

Tuesday Treasure

This is one of my all time most most most FAVOURITE books in the whole world!  I had a copy of this book in every Primary school library (there are four of them) where I worked as a Teacher-Librarian.  Very sadly the last copy was disposed by the replacement staff in my last (former) school library.  A few months ago I was browsing through used books and yippee I found a copy of Clouds - a used copy from a library in the UK. It arrived today and I am smiling a enormous smile! I just couldn't wait to share this tonight even though it is not Tuesday!

Why do I love this book?

1. I love the colour green used for the cover and the grass (my photo doesn't do this justice and this older copy is fairly faded)
2. I love the idea of making a story from the cloud shapes - I'm sure we have all done this
3. I love the way the balloon, that has floated away from the children, becomes part of the cloud story
4. I love the simple, direct prose
5. I love the words - spread-eagled, scuttered, strutted, stumped.
6. I love the way the text is repeated at the end - rather like a bookend.
7. I love that this book is just about a small event, a tiny part of the day where two kids enjoy lying on the grass with their dog Ruben watching the clouds and talking about what they can see

"Tom and me were out on Saturday in the sun with Ruben and our red balloon. 
We'd galloped, panting down the hill then dropped spread-eagled on the grass watch the clouds that seemed to hover over us, Tom said, before they drifted past. 
Ruben scuttered off after an imaginary rabbit and there we lay Tom and me and the red balloon floated away."

Clouds is a really old book - first published in 1972. You might be lucky and find it in a well stocked library.

Peggy Blakeley was the author of over 150 books including the music books Apusskidu, Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay which are titles I am sure many Primary school teachers will recognise. She died aged 85 in 2006.  Clouds is the only book, in English at least, that I can find illustrated by Kazuo Niizaka. A colleague in Japan did some more research for me. Kazuo Niizaka (1943-1987) loved kites and he wrote several books about them. Here is his book Tobeshiro Owl from 1980.

I would like to know more about the books by Peggy Blakeley - and why, in the 1970s, so many of her books, published by A and C Black (series Read Together Books), were illustrated by Japanese illustrators. Sorry Momoko and the Pretty bird appears here - it is not by Peggy Blakeley it's by Chihiro Iwasaki.

Illustrator Kenzo Kobayashi

Illustrator Shomei Yoh

Illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki

Here are some more text quotes from Clouds:

"And then came a whale blowing across the great wide sky at noon chasing, quite ferociously, our little red balloon."

"Next an unlikely elephant came with Tom and me up on its back. 

A mangy lion, a fluffy dog, a frightened hare, a tiny mouse - it seemed the sky was full up there.

But the yellow bird was flying high and our red balloon went bob, bob, bobbing by."

"Tom and me were out one Saturday in the sun with Ruben coming home and the only bit left of our lovely red balloon. And we lay spread-eagled on the grass watching the clouds as they went drifting past."