A quickly-read picture book showing how we all have our place, with Sidney the cloud (aka Cyril, the name he had when this was first published just a couple of years ago) only wanting to look down on happiness, and not managing to bring anything like that to the people below him. Colours are strong in the art, but I can see some people taking against the style. And the story is a little too simplistic to bear too many reads, however welcome the message may be. For both those reasons combined, this was three and a half stars for me, which might be a smidge ungenerous. But it is cloudy out.

Sydney the Lonely Cloud

4 Stars


We follow Sydney on her journey to find smiling faces, as she watches the people below, as she moves through the sky.

The illustrations are colorful and bright. They're reminiscent of the '70s psychedelic art era. The artwork definitely does a great job depicting the riot of emotions Sydney's going through until she finds where she belongs.

Overall, I enjoyed this charming little book. It's a good choice for any library. It's cute, short, and sweet. Thanks, NetGalley and Flyaway Books, for an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Amazing story! I love the illustrations. Finding your place in the world is so comforting! A unique way to present finding your place in the world and not giving up on yourself.

Sidney, the cloud, is discouraged because when he comes around, most people aren't happy. He feels desperately lonely. But his loneliness doesn't paralyze him, and he decides to travel in search of friends. His adventures lead him to a place where his shade and raindrops are not just tolerated, but greatly welcomed.

This adorable book offers a simple message that little kids need to hear: Everyone has value, you just have to figure out where your special talents are appreciated. In fact, I think I know a few adults who could stand to hear this message too.

Beautiful illustrations and great premise. Could be a very easy way to explain weather and seasons to small kids but I wish there were more pages showing the good things that rain brings. While you can definitely use the rain - over - the - fields page as an easy start for example, it would be very nice if it thestory was more detailed overall. Would use in a readaloud library session but I'm afraid it might feel a bit flat when read by the younger primary students on their own.

This delightful story is one of perseverance and hope. Sidney, an adorable little cloud, wants nothing more than to make people happy and smile. Unfortunately when people see him they wish he would go away as oftentimes a cloud brings rain showers and rains on their parades no matter what they may be up to.

Sidney feels sad and lonely but refuses to give up. He journeys on searching for friendly welcoming faces amidst the crowds of people. He never quits hoping that he might bring happiness and smiles to others.

He drifts here and there and finally parks himself over a dry parched land. Will he be revered and accepted because of the needs of the land and finally bring joy to its people? Has he at long last found a place to belong?

The illustrations are fantastic... colourful, vibrant and enriching. I love the positive message that everyone has valuable gifts to share and has an important contribution to share with the world. I highly recommend this book.

Title: Sidney the Lonely Cloud
Author: Tim Hopgood
Publisher: Flyaway Books

Another knockout from Flyaway Books! Tim Hopgood's glorious rainbow of a picture book follows a cloud named Sidney on their journey to belonging. Who will finally welcome this lonely cloud? Oh, Sidney, I want to hug you! Full of feeling and compassion, "Sidney the Lonely Cloud" will be a great read aloud. Coming to bookstores October 18th! I can't wait to welcome Sidney to the Library!

ARC: NetGalley

I need this book for storytime ASAP. I'm trying to figure out how many themes I can tie this into because it is BEAUTIFUL. I love the artwork and the sweet story about everyone being SO SAD when Sidney appears. Very clever and I need all the copies.

A lovely story about Sidney, looking for a place where he is accepted and people are are happy to see him.
#NetGalley #Flyaway Books # Sidney The Lonely Cloud

Interesting take on a rain cloud and everyone being unhappy to see him. If only instead of animals being happy to see Sidney, people had been included to. I'd be curious to see what my preschoolers think.
Thanks to NetGalley & Flyaway books for the preview in exchange for an honest review

Sidney, the Lonely Cloud, is a children's picture book with a message.

Synopsis:

Sidney, the raincloud, wants to look down and see smiling, happy faces. Unfortunately, most people shoo him away. They don't want any rain on their activities, making Sidney sad.

He travels far and wide, trying to find a place to welcome him. Crossing over the ocean causes him to swell to an even bigger size.

When he finally comes to an arid, dry land, the creatures below welcome his shade and cooling rains.

My thoughts:

The message of finding your place and your people is quite essential. While the story "could" lead kids to think they should give up on where they are, the message of finding your best place to fit in is vital for all ages.

The book is meant for very your readers, so they aren't ready for lessons that are too complex. In its simplicity, Sidney sends valuable lessons we all need. For little ones, persistence, finding your happy place, and hope need to be consistently reinforced.

An adult might even use this story to start teaching environmental science and ecology principles.

I think this book is a good fit for early readers, daycares, and preschools.

What a cute story with the lesson that we should always appreciate everyone and everything. My 3 year old really enjoyed it and we used it as part of our homeschooling curriculum during weather week. Highly recommend.

Great concept. But fell flat for me. I think the book has a good message that could be explored more in a read aloud setting.

A beautiful illustrated book about clouds. Sidney his is name. He goes across the land, across cities, towns, farms, forest, and the sea. Sometimes he is met with gladness and other times with disappointment. You and your child will appreciate Sidney adventures and all the places he visits. It will spark your child's imagination and look at clouds a little differently.

A special thank you to Flyaway Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Review of eBook

All Sidney wants is to look down on the world and see happy, smiling faces. But whenever Sidney appears, everyone wishes that he would just go away.

And so Sidney goes away.

He passes over farmland, rivers, and bridges, over towns and cities, and over the ocean. But drifting over the water made Sidney grow bigger . . . and bigger . . . and bigger.

What will happen when Sidney reaches the land on the other side of the ocean?

=========

The target audience for this picture book is the young reader, ages three through seven, preschool through second grade. Colorful illustrations accompany the heartfelt story of the little cloud, helping readers understand that everyone is special, everyone has unique gifts to share and everyone has an important place in the world.

But young readers may question why Sidney had to go so far away to find those smiles and his own specialness. Why didn’t the picnickers and the kite-flyers, the farm-dwellers and the city-dwellers see his specialness? Why didn’t they see that the rain was important to their lives, too?

As sweet as the denouement of this tender tale may be, adults should be prepared to explain to young readers why Sidney felt unappreciated in the beginning of the story and why the people couldn't find a smile for him.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Flyaway Books and NetGalley
#SidneytheLonelyCloud #NetGalley

Sidney the Lonely Cloud is a beautifully illustrated book with a great message.

I'm a second grade teacher this year and I have students who struggle to make friends. A lot of the students also just don't understand that not everyone gets along. I would love to use this book to explain to students that everyone has to find the right people who understand them and appreciate them for who they are!
Sidney's story explained this message in a kid friendly way, and I loved the art style of the book! It was so colorful with gorgeous illustrations.

I will definitely be picking up a copy for my classroom!
Thank you Netgalley and Flyaway Books for the eARC!

Such a sweet, adorable story!!! Many kids will relate to the feeling of not fitting in and find joy in Sidney finding his place. This will be a great read aloud for parents and their kids. I LOVED the art style and the depth in the each picture. The bright colors and layering makes each page interesting and will definitely hold kids' interest.

Thanks to Netgalley and Flyaway Books for a free digital copy.

The story of a lonely cloud that really teaches children inversely about how rain clouds form and work. I thought it was very sweet.

Sidney wants to make people happy, but he always seems to upset people. When he floats by people, want him to go away. With his feelings hurt, the cloud searches for a place they will appreciate him for who he is. He finds acceptance in the desert, where people are happy for him to stick around.

Read Sidney the Lonely Cloud to promote discussions on embracing who we are, welcoming others, finding our place in the world, appreciation, and belonging.

Sidney wants to look down and see happy faces and cheery places. Unfortunately, wherever Sidney appears, people seem to scream that they want the cloud to go away. So, Sidney decides to leave, and as she crosses over bodies of water, she continues to grow larger. When Sidney stumbles upon a very warm, dry land, will she finally find a place where she is appreciated?

This adorable picture book slowly introduces readers to the water cycle, as well as being as appreciated for who you are. Everyone has a place where they are wanted and where they belong. Everything serves a purpose. The pictures are beautiful and show a lot of detail. This is an uplifting book for families to read together.

Notes: This review was originally published on the Ariesgrl Book Reviews website.