Cloud Babies

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Author(s)

Eoin Colfer

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Chris Judge

Publisher

Candlewick

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

April 11, 2023

ISBN

978-1536231076

Buy This Book

Eoin Colfer, New York Times best-selling author of the Artemis Fowl series, pens a warm, empathy-building story based on illustrator Chris Judge’s family’s experience with childhood illness.

Six-year-old Erin’s favorite game is spotting animals in the clouds with her mom and dad—everything from fluffy foxes and polar bears to little rabbits. Even when Erin falls very ill and has to spend a long time in the hospital, she still manages to find joy in spying “cloud babies” through the window with her new hospital friends. When the doctor tells Erin she can go home, she is so excited! But being back at school is not at all what she expected—so much has changed, and Erin must reconcile the safe realm she’s just left with a world outside that has become unfamiliar. With Mom and Dad’s love and wisdom, however, and with the help of her teacher and friends, Erin comes to see that by sharing her experience she can find happiness again in just being herself. Sensitively told and vibrantly brought to life, Cloud Babies brings recognition and comfort to children facing illness or hardship, as well as guidance to those who wish to offer support but may not know where to start.

Editor review

1 review

Brings Awareness to Children in the Hospital

April 29, 2023

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Erin absolutely loves her cloud babies and sharing them with her dad because it's usually something they can bond over. When she gets sick, Erin has to spend some time in the Children's Hospital. Even though they're apart, she and her dad can still see the same cloud babies. However, when it's time to leave and return to her normal class, the game of cloud babies seems too childish. Her school friends are very different from her hospital friends so Erin finds herself torn between the two. She must learn how to be friends with everyone while still doing the things she loves.

CLOUD BABIES is an emotional picture book about how hard it can be to have to stay in a hospital as a child. Not all children go through this, but it brings awareness to the ones that do. Inspiration is a powerful weapon to help someone get through hard times and that is exactly what Erin's Cloud Babies are to her. All she has to do is look up and there's a magical world waiting to be discovered. The illustrations are adorable and I love how black lines help children to see the animals in the way Erin does. In the back of the book, the author talks more about hospitalized children and how visitors can always help to brighten their day.

Final Verdict: I would recommend CLOUD BABIES to Children's hospitals, for those children who may have siblings that are sick, or just to raise awareness of different things others may be going through. It's a heart-warming story about searching for the good no matter how much bad surrounds you.