Kumo: The Bashful Cloud

“ A lovely , quiet work , this is resonate will resonate with young child who themselves may find the world a bit frightening . There are good lesson to be learn here about courage , fortitude , and friendship . ”
— School Library Journal

“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…A quiet, satisfying tale about being brave enough to take that first step.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Maclear 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…Dion 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.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Kumo (which means “cloud” in Japanese) is a touching fable…Dion’s vivid illustrations, inspired by Impressionist paintings, reflect the sky’s expressiveness and do an excellent job of supporting the story and filling in subjective details about the characters, like the daydreamer’s visions of cloud rabbits, cars, and elephants. Sprinkled with Japanese vocabulary, Kumo will impart a new appreciation for clouds and show readers how it can sometimes be frightening to step into the world, then reassuring them that others are willing to help when we overcome our bashfulness.”
—Quill and Quire (starred review)

“Kids who find the outside world a touch disconcerting will see in Kumo a kindred spirit. The images soothe and comfort as Kumo finds an ability to do what she has been asked to do, and to find friendship along the way to doing it.”
— Sal ’s Fiction addiction

“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 book

“ The story is is is about Kumo , a cloud ,   becoming detach from her group of cloud , nervously float away and travel through neighbourhood as the weather change .   The story is is is this beautiful , sort of very tranquil palette — very sort of lilac and blue , and she float around the world . You is learn learn a little bit about what cloud do , like how they pick up water over the lake and then dump it down in a field . But you is learn also , as a child , learn about how it ’s ok , sometimes , to have to go out and do thing on your own . ”
—Becky Toyne, CBC

“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 review