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:	9780735267282
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 12.31(h) x 0.49(d)
Lexile:	AD570L (what's this?)
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

10/03/2022

Maclear (If You Were a City) writes a tale as light and lilting as its cloud hero. Kumo, whose “only wish was to float unseen,” panics when she’s tapped for cloud duty. She’d strongly prefer not to venture out alone: “What if people point? What if I’m too airy?” Under pressure, she immediately becomes stuck in a tree, but a friendly kite and a breath of wind set her free. She gradually gains confidence as it becomes clear that her work—watering the earth and providing shade—is necessary and important. There’s pleasure in it, too, as she assumes fanciful forms for a dreaming boy: “Kumo knew it was hard being small in such a big place. And sometimes dreaming helped.” Quiet, sweeping panoramas, often in sunrise colors, nurture the sense of calm that comes with broad perspectives and new connections. Dion (The Big Bad Wolf in My House) emphasizes the natural forms of Kumo and her fellow clouds, creating distinctive shapes that bear just the suggestion of facial expressions in this memorable story about coming into one’s own. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Jackie Kaiser, Westwood Creative Artists. Illustrator’s agent: Sylvie Hamel, Anna Goodson Illustration Agency. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"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

07/15/2022

PreS-Gr 1—Kumo, a little cloud, is very shy and fears being seen making a mistake. But after many years of drifting quietly in the background, she is asked to take over cloud duties for a day. She gathers her courage and does her duty. She travels over cities and fields, shades those needing rest and sprinkles rain drops where necessary. She helps a shy child to see wonder in the sky, and makes friends—many cloud friends—who together can fill the sky. A lovely, quiet work, this will resonate with young children who themselves may find the world a bit frightening. There are good lessons to be learned here about courage, fortitude, and friendship. The soft watercolor illustrations are soothing and comforting. An excellent SEL 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. VERDICT A quiet book with a resonating message for children who may be afraid to stand out.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken

School Library Journal

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