7 March 2025 THE LITTLE CLOUD by Pam Fong, HarperCollins/Greenwillow, March 2025, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-06-335999-4

“Rows and floes of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I’ve looked at clouds that way”

– Joni Mitchell (1966)

“Before dawn, the clouds gathered to plan for a storm.

‘When should we start?’

‘How much should we rain?’

‘Should we invite the winds?’

Everyone was focused.

Except for Little Cloud.

Little Cloud wanted a closer look at the valley.

No one would notice if a small puff of cloud floated away.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ boomed Big Gray Cloud.

‘Look at all the wonderful things below,’ said Little Cloud.

‘What if instead of storming, we–’

‘NONSENSE!’ thundered Big Gray Cloud, pulling Little Cloud back to join the others.”

The broad, picturesque landscapes Little Cloud sees below them are downright beautiful. Amongst the vivid scenes on Planet Earth, Little Cloud spies a friendly young bovine.

It’s a simple story. But for all the three-year-olds who spend way too much time being bossed and herded around by oh-so-busy adults with their oh-so-important tasks and errands, this will be a joy and a giggle, and will quite likely lead to requests for re-readings. 

The tale concludes with the two new buddies smiling conspiratorially at one another from afar. Pair THE LITTLE CLOUD with the 78-year-old classic, IT LOOKED LIKE SPILT MILK; take the kids on a field trip out to the play yard to search for Little Cloud hanging out above; and organize a related art project.

THE LITTLE CLOUD provides a great lesson in observing nature, finding happiness in simple pleasures, and how adults can too often be too busy to live in the moment and savor the wonders of our glorious planet and its inhabitants.

Richie Partington, MLIS

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