Kumo: The Bashful Cloud

by Kyo Maclear, Nathalie Dion (Illustrator)

Overview

The uplifting journey of a bashful cloud ("kumo" in Japanese) who discovers the rewards of feeling seen.

Kumo is a cloud whose only wish is to float unseen. When she’s assigned cloud duty for the day, she feels overwhelmed by self-doubt and her fear of being noticed. But after learning that closing your eyes isn’t a good solution to your troubles, Kumo pulls her fluff together and does her duties — drifting, releasing rain and providing shelter — meeting some new friends along the way and inspiring the imagination (and capturing the heart) of a small daydreamer like her. 
 
Kyo Maclear’s sweetly humorous and lyrical parable about shyness, vividly brought to life by Nathalie Dion’s ethereal illustrations, is an affirmation of the pleasures of community and the confidence that can arise from friendship and visibility.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735267299
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
Lexile:	AD570L (what's this?)
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

KYO MACLEAR is an award-winning writer whose books for children and adults have been translated into fifteen languages and published in over twenty countries. An official member of the Cloud Appreciation Society, Kyo is fond of quiet nooks and long books. She generally avoids performing, but loves the performers in her life, including and especially the three musicians with whom she shares a house in Toronto, Ontario.

NATHALIE DION is an acclaimed children's book and editorial illustrator. She received a Governor General's Award nomination for her work in Valérie Fontaine's Le grand méchant loup dans ma maison, published in English as The Big Bad Wolf in My House. Nathalie’s beloved puffy white dog, along with the breathtaking cloud paintings of the modern era, inspired her to illustrate this book. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Editorial Reviews

"Dion’s vivid illustrations, inspired by Impressionist paintings, reflect the sky’s expressiveness. . . . Kumo will impart a new appreciation for clouds and show readers how it can sometimes be frightening to step into the world, then [reassure] them that others are willing to help when we overcome our bashfulness." —STARRED REVIEW, Quill & Quire

"Nathalie Dion masterfully renders the journey of Kumo through the use of a rich palette of colours. . . . The reader revels at the richness of representation of the sky and clouds — sometimes reminiscent of Turner's or Monet's artwork — along with the exquisite depiction of landscapes and cityscapes." —Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Jury/IBBY Canada

"[F]or young readers who may themselves feel anxious about finding their place and making friends . . . [a] quiet, satisfying tale about being brave enough to take that first step." —Kirkus Reviews

"An excellent . . . read-aloud to help children understand their own reticence about being seen, this story also shows the many ways they can be present, as individuals or part of a group." —School Library Journal

"Maclear writes a tale as light and lilting as its cloud hero. . . . Quiet, sweeping panoramas, often in sunrise colors, nurture the sense of calm that comes with broad perspectives and new connections. . . . [a] memorable story about coming into one's own." —Publishers Weekly


"After reading this book, young and old readers alike are sure to gain an even greater appreciation for clouds. Every time we look up at the sky, we’ll likely think of Kumo." —Montreal Review of Books

"Kyo Maclear’s touching story about shyness shows how little Kumo changes her anxious feelings to confidence by being active and enjoying the beauty and friendships of the world around her. Maclear’s style of prose is almost poetic and adds a gentleness to the subject of bashfulness, which can be so difficult for young children." —CM Reviews

"Learning a few Japanese words is a fun bonus in this beautifully illustrated book." —Midwest Book Review

"Nathalie Dion’s ethereal illustrations bring the story of Kumo to life, fitting perfectly with Kyo Maclear’s lyrical parable about a shy little cloud exploring the world and making new friends along the way." —Quebec Library Association

From the Publisher

2022-09-28
What do you see in the clouds…a new friend, perhaps?

Kumo, a cloud who likes to hide high up in the sky, floats about where no one can see her. One day, she is given a big job—to care for those on land by keeping them cool and shaded and offering rain. Anxious and self-conscious about being seen, Kumo sets out, eyes shut…and gets tangled up in a tree. With the help of a friendly kite and the wind, Kumo tries again and discovers some interesting sights—tall city buildings, a warm lake, rolling fields, and more. At a lively street party, she finds a kindred spirit—a young boy gazing up at the clouds, standing a bit apart, and daydreaming. Using spare, evocative prose, Maclear depicts Kumo’s journey to become braver and make cloud friends, discovering her place in the sky and gaining confidence along the way. Dion’s illustrations offer a gentle, pastel-tinged land- and skyscape; Kumo’s soft form makes her approachable and relatable, especially for young readers who may themselves feel anxious about finding their place and making friends. They may even be inspired to gaze up into the sky in search of Kumo, perhaps before a repeat reading. Humans depicted are racially diverse; the boy presents as Asian. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A quiet, satisfying tale about being brave enough to take that first step. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews