By Frances Stickley (author) , Emily Hamilton (illustrator)
"How friends who care and talking about our feelings can drive those dark clouds away."
Hardback In Stock £12.99 £11.69
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One of the trickiest things for young children to learn, is about how to control their feelings. Feelings which can overwhelm them are scary, and this beautiful and gentle picturebook does a wonderful job of explanation and reassurance. It will be a really important addition to empathy collections.
The idea of depression and sadness being depicted as a black cloud is not new, but it is done really well here, and contrasts tellingly with the beautiful images of springtime and of all the familiar details of Bear’s little cottage. Spring is normally Bear’s favourite time, and his trio of friends cannot understand why he does not want to join their picnic.
They decide that something must be wrong and take him some of his favourite things to cheer him up. They cannot see the black cloud literally hanging over him and do not understand why their efforts do not work. Bear doesn’t understand where the cloud has come from and however angry he gets; it does not go away.
Loyal friend Squirrel will not give up and asks if he can come in and talk. He doesn’t mind that Bear says he will not be much fun. He just sits with Bear until Bear feels able to tell him all about it. He listens and comforts Bear with little acts of kindness, providing an umbrella to keep off the raindrops and gently coaxes him into play and reminding him of happier days. Eventually Bear comes to terms with his feelings and realises there is nothing to be scared of; and the book ends on a beautiful, hopeful note as the cloud disappears and a gorgeous rainbow appears.
The story shows young children that these big feelings are perfectly normal, everybody has them and everyone can be helped by kindness, and by talking about their feelings. It demonstrates how we can help our friends if they are experiencing a storm cloud of their own. The fact that what caused the cloud is never explained means that this is a book that could be appropriate in many circumstances. A touching and tender book which will resonate with a wide range of age groups.
Bear awoke in springtime to a bright, beautiful sky. The birds were singing. The sun was shining . . . So why did Bear feel blue?
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It's a wonderfully sunny Spring day but Bear has woken up to find a storm cloud hanging above his head and he just can't get rid of it.
Can his friends help him to find his way through the storm to discover the brightest of rainbows?
Supporting little ones to talk about their feelings openly and compassionately, The Storm Cloud is a beautiful, life-affirming and hopeful story about sitting with sadness, the power of friendship, and learning that the brightest rainbows always come after a storm.
Frances Stickley grew up in Nottingham and Norwich, where she spent much of her time making up poems and dressing up her dog. She is a trained children's literacy specialist and a primary school teacher who is happiest when she is covered in paint or stuck in a book. Frances first realised her love for writing with the poem, 'My Dad's Milkfloat', when she was six.
In 2017, Frances was the winner of the Bloomsbury and National Literacy Trust short story prize. She lives with her family and a big-eared dog called Babbage. When she is not writing, you'll probably find her in a forest playing dragons with her daughters.
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A beautiful book to help little ones who are learning emotions, with a strong message about the power of friendship and the importance of talking about emotions.
This book arrived at the perfect time! Emily is learning how to self-regulate and this book explains about emotions in a beautiful way. The use of words such as tug and drip help to understand the feelings that emotions can bring plus the use of the cloud and the rainbow were very relatable for this young child. A strong message about the power of friendship in difficult times and the importance of talking about emotions.... Read Full Review
A picture book for the soul. Beautifully illustrated and sensitively written, join Bear and his friends as they navigate the challenges of both having a constant Storm Cloud of emotions weighing on you and supporting those you love when they do.
The Storm Cloud is a picture book for the soul. Bear is feeling blue and has a storm cloud constantly above his head. He doesn't want to spend any time with his friends as he is worried that his persistent storm will make them feel unhappy too. But friends are there in good times and bad and Bear's friends don't want to leave him alone with his storm cloud. They do all that they can to bring him through the rain and out to the sunshine on the other side.... Read Full Review
Wonderful book for anyone who enjoys stories about friendship, emotions, and kindness.
My son enjoyed reading The Storm Cloud because it tells an important story about feelings and emotions. The pictures are colourful and help bring the story to life. We liked how the book shows that everyone can have difficult days and that talking to others can help. The characters are easy to understand, and the message is kind and positive. We think The Storm Cloud is a thoughtful and comforting book.... Read Full Review
Bear awoke in springtime to a bright, beautiful sky. The birds were singing.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Storm Cloud and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-6 years old
The Storm Cloud features in the following genres: Featured Books for 3+ readers, Featured Books for 5+ readers, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Animal Stories, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage emotions: Sadness, unhappiness, disappointment, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Emotions, moods, feelings and behaviours
Hardback. £11.69, down from the £12.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Storm Cloud was written by Frances Stickley and published by Post Wave Children's Books
The Storm Cloud has 32 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
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