I think this book is a great way to talk about, complicated feelings, sadness, and depression. I don't feel like the book covers the full range of feelings that display if someone is depressed, for example, but I think the book is a good starting point for a conversation. My favorite scene is when Abigail hugs her dark cloud.

I loved the muted tones in this as they seem very appropriate to the topic of depression. But there's a little color here and there, like the bright yellow bow in Abigail's hair. Even though the story does not rhyme, there is a wonder, lyrical rhythm to text on the page. This story made me want to reach out and give Abigail a big hug!

Depression is a heavy topic, particularly for children. Lazowski offers a great tool with Dark Cloud to start conversations about it, to explain how emotions are important and how we experience them differently. The books is particularly good for educational purposes.
The illustrations do a great job of creating an atmosphere that relates Abigail's feelings; sometimes they are actually more straightforward than the text itself.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this digital ARC.

This is a simple and effective picture book describing the emotional and physical impacts of sadness and depression on a young girl. The use of metaphor is easily understood by young children and provides a point of connection for parents and carers. Many opportunities for discussion linking back to own lives and experiences.

The growing use of colour in the gorgeous illustrations match Abigail's realisation that she is not alone and she can step outside her dark cloud with the help of family and friends.

I would recommend this title to families and libraries alike.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this before publication!
Beautiful and heartbreaking, the black and white illustration really play a huge role and are perfect for the theme.
The perfect way to talk about depression to the smaller kids and I loved how it didn't gloss over the situation and, didn't show depression just resolving itself and going away in the end, rather shows Abigail learning how to deal with the dark could.

I know it's a children's book but 20 year old me could've used this. Thanks to #netgalley for the advanced copy.

I was diagnosed with depression when I was 13 and my husband was diagnosed with bi-polar depression when he was 16, with that in mind, we are actively finding ways to talk more openly about mental health with our children aged 5 and 8. A few weeks ago, I was prescribed medication to better manage my depression which prompted more conversations with my kids; what it feels like and how I am trying to handle it. My eldest had loads of questions because - thankfully - his mind couldn't quite wrap around this dark cloud following his mom around. I really liked how this book simplified depression in a way that my children could understand. It was a timely ARC that I am truly grateful to have received and one that I will revisit as a reminder that sometimes, people have dark clouds.

It is not always easy to explore big feelings with children, but the stunning illustrations (by Penny Neville-Lee - an illustrator I personally adore) coupled with the sensitively written narrative, enable even the youngest of children to delve into discussion around depression and sadness, the impact they have on us, how these feelings are transient and how others too share similar emotions. I had seen Penny working on the illustrations for this book sometime ago and eagerly awaited its release (May 2023), so feel privileged to have been able to read a proof of this - it is truly sumptuous.
With the considered use of colour and form, the emotions of the endearing character, Abigail, are skilfully brought to life, making the understanding of such a tricky topic more tangible and less daunting to all. It is a powerful book with so much scope for supporting our young people in the classroom. It really is exquisite, with its dazzling illustrations almost promising a sense of hope.

What I love most about this book is that it tells kids it's okay to not be okay. So many children are dealing with anxiety and depression and this book is a lovely way to talk about how we are feeling. This is a story about perseverance in a way that a child can relate. The illustrations prove to be very powerful make a statement on their own.

As a mom, I love this book. But as a teacher, I LOVE this book! Reading social/emotional texts with my students always leads to powerful discussions. This is a must buy for any elementary school educator or therapist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for an advanced readers copy!

This is a wonderful book that explores the reality of depression for young readers. This will be a great resource for those both struggling with depression (and their families) and for those who know someone who is or had struggled with depression. The story did a great job of conceptualizing mental health to young readers

Depression is a heavy topic for children to understand and relate to. This book did an excellent job of not only portraying depression, but showing ways that it can change. It isn't constant, and there are ways to change it's size, or ensure it isn't always following you. The art and story are perfect for this topic for young children. I'd recommend this book for ages 6+. #NetGalley #NetGalleyArc #ARC

A powerful book that has the potential to help so many young kids. Depression and sadness are an abstract concept for children, but Dark Cloud makes it tangible by comparing it to a cloud that follows the main character around. The book shares that the dark cloud is always with her and affects her in different ways, such as a loss of appetite. Dark Cloud provides a conversation starter for a difficult, yet important topic.

As an adult with depression, this children's book summed up the feelings so well. I love that it depicts that the cloud will follow you everywhere, but at a point you learn tools to work with it. It doesn't gloss over the fact that depression or big feelings can be a constant thing.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This story gives great examples of how depression can feel and affect you. It shows a girl trying to do the things she enjoys, but because of depression, they're just not any fun, and they stop her from being depressed. I like how the book doesn't suggest that depression just goes away. Instead it shows that some days are worse than others, and some days can seem like good days as if the depression doesn't exist, but it's still there waiting.

The illustrations were very grey and dark, which is expected with a title like this. Towards the end, they had some fun pops of color, depending on how the depression was affecting Abigail at the time. It was a really nice touch.

I don't think I'd want to read this book too many times because it hits a little close to home (and I'm not in a great place right now myself), but at the same time I'd want my kids to have a better understanding of those feelings than I had when I was their age, so I'd probably power through if they were requesting it. Getting help now might be easier for me if talking about my feelings was encouraged more when I was younger.

Overall I give this book 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Dark Cloud
4.5 Stars without text
3 Stars with text

To be clear, I think the book synopsis does a much better job explaining the black cloud as depression than the text inside the book. Though I never read blurbs during story time. So, I excluded it.

To be honest, I preferred this book with no text at all. It is a visual masterpiece. The text wasn't direct. It's vague, and at times confusing. The author does not state what the Dark Cloud represents to Abigail throughout this story. Leaving it up for interpretation, which requires more executive function skills. Speaking from experience, my daughter does not do well with vagueness. Children with ADHD or on the spectrum will find this book challenging. So, I did a flip-through without the text.

I think the illustrator did a fabulous job with their use of color; it represents vibrant life, while artists' use of black and white represents sadness or depression. I like how the darkness is not always the same size. As the story progresses, it teaches the reader how both light and darkness can co-exist together. On good days, Abigail is covered in sunshine, and gives the reader hope of balance will be found.

This is an excellent book for educational purposes, and to address a difficult topic. So, I'd recommend this for parents, teachers, counselors, and nurses serving the youth's behavioral health. But not my first choice for parents that may not be prepared to answer hard questions.


Thank you, NetGalley and Kids Can Press , for an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Where was this book when I was a child? I absolutely love the way it gives young readers a visual representation of what depression can feel like, both to help identify and describe an intangible feeling. I also loved the reminder that parents and friends can have these feelings too, along with the important message that it can get better and worse and not always stay the same. The illustrations did a beautiful job of evoking the emotions of the story and really added to the book in a meaningful way. This is definitely getting added to our home library!

Lovely, kid-appropriate story about depression. Fantastic art mixes black-and-white and bright color palates (sometimes on the same page) to depict how people with depression can feel both happy and sad all at the same time. Definitely a conversation starter.

I liked the black and white to color art as the character experienced changes in mood. It’s a good book to help kids understand depression, how to feel better, and how to share your feelings with others.

The illustrations for Dark Cloud were beautiful. The subtle color scheme really contributed to the overall mood of the book, and I appreciate how expressive each illustration was. Despite having a small cast of characters, the cast was still diverse.
I felt that the illustrations conveyed the mood of the book better than the prose. While I feel like the prose left room for opportunities for adults to talk to children about how they're feeling, it didn't flow as well as it could have as a story. It was missing something to help connect everything together. That said, I appreciate the room for discussion and the way feelings were described. While I wouldn't read this during a storytime or suggest it to your average child, I would suggest it to parents and caregivers. Additional resources are listed in the back as an added benefit.

Abigail has a dark cloud that follows her everywhere. It turns her world into bleak shades of gray, especially during times of celebration, like her birthday. Overtime, she learns she's not the only one who has a dark cloud in her life, and she finds healthy ways to live with it. Lazowski's thoughtful text is helpful for young ones who are learning how to deal with sadness and depression at an early age, and Neville-Lee's digital art translates well with Abigail's feelings, showing mostly gray/muted colors when the cloud is around and bright, eye-catching pastels at the end. Back matter features an author's note on depression and places you can ask for help and questions. Overall: A comforting and helpful read for young ones and caregivers with dark clouds in there lives.