Little Cloud

by Eric Carle

The clouds drift across the bright blue sky--all except one. Little Cloud trails behind. He is busy changing shapes to become a fluffy sheep, a zooming airplane, and even a clown with a funny hat. Eric Carle 's trademark collages will make every reader want to run outside and discover their very own little cloud.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Science, Storytime, Nature, Art, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Eric Carle was an American author, designer and illustrator of children's books. His picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, first published in 1969, has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. Carle's career as an illustrator and children's book author accelerated after he collaborated on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Carle illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have been sold around the world.
In 2003, the American Library Association awarded Carle the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award), a prize for writers or illustrators of children's books published in the U.S. who have made lasting contributions to the field. Carle was also a U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010.

Reviews

[Christian Schultheiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say about this next read in me and my sons slow progress through Eric Carle’s vast collection. As a kid I can’t say I particularly remember this one but with its rather simple although cool premise in the focus of daydream clouds and their formations, it still could easily become lost or forgotten after a quick library reading time. That being said just like with all of Eric’s works the childish, approachable, familiar, and always bright art style even with its simplicity is definitely my favorite aspect of these books and why I’m always so eager to pick the next one up at the library whenever we visit. 3.25/5

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish the cloud shapes had been more abstract, but maybe this way works best for kids - although I could have done without the clown cloud.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little cloud drifts across the sky and becomes different things. I liked the idea of a cloud changing shape and this was a nice story but the cloud looked too much like the thing it was meant to be. It would have been a 4 star for me if you'd had to use some imagination to see the object the cloud was meant to resemble.

Read on open library.

[Kim]

Listen. I just really needed to meet that 2020 reading goal.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little cloud has fun changing shapes into a sheep, trees, a rabbit and more things. Then it dies.

Somehow, according to my old book database, my 4-year-old daughter enjoyed this when I read it to her a couple decades back. I did not, then or now. It was never a book we bothered to re-read.

[Canette Arille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the story, but illustrations are not like in the other books by Eric Carle. I wish to change them a little, because looks a little boring.
I like this that little cloud changes its shape, for example: hat. Its interesting, and children can like this book.

[Slayermel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story about a little cloud that trails behind all of the big clouds. I think children would find it interesting due to the fact that they sometimes see different shapes in the clouds, and this story touches upon some of the shapes the little cloud can change into.

Compared to some of Eric Carle's other stories, I would have to say I find it lacking. Maybe my hopes were too high, but I found this story somewhat pointless and boring. The only thing the children at work seem to enjoy about this story is the shapes the little cloud can make.

[Ally McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures are nice for the children. We imitated the sounds of some of the animals when the cloud changed into their shape.

[jada alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

girl why did this just make me cryyyyyy 😭 i luv u eric carle

[Josephine Burks · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter read me this cute book. Love Eric Carle.

[Atsupui Dogbla]

The Little Cloud is a very interesting story that helps children develop their imaginations, and perception of things they may see closer or farther. Young children may learn how a little cloud could get bigger and bigger, and becomes a giant cloud with the other to make rain fall. Through this book, school age children may experience the speed, and the movement little cloud can do. This story emphasizes on uniqueness and togetherness: whether you're small or big, you have your part in the society; moreover, togetherness gives more strength to make big things happen. Through this story, young children should develop self-esteem, and teamwork.

[Laura Dowsett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, much like The Little Seed (also by Eric Carle) details the life of a single cloud. I used this book in my year 1 class as part of a core text literacy lesson. It really go the children thinking about how clouds move through the sky and change shape, size and colour.

Additionally, we had been studying the water cycle and this book was handy to link to the water cycle.

The book is relatively short and follows a very simple repetitive pattern, but was still very much enjoyed in my year 1 class.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the Eric Carle books, and I was pleased to add this one to my collection. This book is about a little cloud who becomes different shapes, and then at the end rains. I used this book to introduce the water cycle to my class. I read this book to them, and then we did an experiment where we took dixie cups half full of water, and then sealed them off in Ziploc bags. We then hung the bags in the window and then observed the water cycle throughout the day. Love it!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would pair well with CLOUDETTE and DUCK, RABBIT for a story time about clouds! Little Cloud delights in being able to change shape and it's fun to see what shape will come next.

[Amanda Averill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Eric Carle’s expository text, Little Cloud, exposes students to different varieties of clouds. The focus is on shape, rather than technical names. There were big ones, small ones, and medium sized clouds in the sky. Little Cloud noticed his cloud friends change forms. He decided that he would like to transform into objects. Little Cloud turned into a clown, airplane, a shark, and many other objects and animals. This provides an idea to children that clouds are in the sky, and look different from one another.

Little Cloud, by Eric Carle, was published in 1998 by Philomel Books. It is a fictional text with 42 pages, is a Guided Reading level I, lexile Level 390, and grade level of pre-k to k.

Little Cloud, by Eric Carle, exposes students to different variations of clouds. The focus of the text is on the shapes of the clouds, rather than technical names. Throughout the text, there were big, small, and medium sized clouds in the sky. Little Cloud noticed his cloud friends changed forms. He decided that he would like to be included in the fun, and transformed into objects. Little Cloud turned into a clown, airplane, a shark, and other various shapes and sizes. Overall, this text provides a basic overview of clouds, and allows students to recognize that clouds are in the sky, and look different from one another.

Teaching idea:
Students may be instructed to imagine clouds they have been previously exposed to, and how it can relate to the text. Students may be asked to look out the window to see if there are any similarities between the clouds outside and the clouds featured in the book. Students may think-pair-share about their experiences with various clouds and draw a picture and a sentence illustrating the similarities between the text and their experiences.

NYS ELA CCS: RL.K.11: With prompting and support, make connections between self, text, and the world around them (text, media, social interaction).

[Flo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't give this to my nephew. His brain will shrink.

Aug 5, 18

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't you just love clouds? A sweet story.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for those who love watching the cloud for shapes.

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack received this book secondhand from family and we read it tonight before bedtime. He loved all the shapes the cloud made and did baaa noises like a sheep (the first shape).

[Beverlee Jobrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Eric Carle books. They teach science in such a fun way!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Cloud is all about a cloud in the sky and how it transforms itself to look like various animals or objects. As a simple story with simple finger-paint style illustrations, one might think this book may be a bit boring, but it certainly is not nor are the activities that can be inspired from it. As a read-aloud storytime book children could do cloud-like movements such as pushing up with their arms or spreading them wide or narrow to show how the cloud rises, grows, and shrinks; they could blow like the wind that moves the cloud; make the sounds of the animals/objects made by the cloud; do rain finger movements; sing a rain themed song; do a cloud craft by creating their own cloud by gluing cotton balls on a piece of construction paper; or if one is lucky enough to have an outdoors storytime, each child could say what shapes, objects, etc. they see when they look up at the clouds. This book can be used in so many creative and imaginative ways, and also works as a teaching tool for understanding weather, the water cycle, and more. Little Cloud is another great Eric Carle book that a wide-range of ages will enjoy.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Cloud is one of Carle's more recent books. Carle started illustrating and writing books in the late 1960s. Of the Carle books I've read there are only two that I don't enjoy: The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Greedy Snake as both are focused so heavily on gluttony.Little Cloud instead teaches through example the importance of being an individual and being a contributing member of a group.

Until the end, each page has a different shape that Little Cloud has created on his own. There's an airplane, a hat, and a variety of other shapes that children will easily recognize.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is about a little cloud (go figure) that turns into all kinds of fun images. There didn't seem to be much of a point, though maybe you could make a case for the power of imagination or the comfort of belonging while being an individual. Maybe it's just about a cloud, lol. The bright blue and white illustrations are fun, messy and cheerful. One of the programming books recommended this for lapsit programs, although I think it's probably better suited to toddlers.

[Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this book in Children's Literature as a group. It was my first time reading the story. I enjoyed the follow-up activity which was create your image of a cloud. Sometimes I look up into the sky and I rarely see anything specific but I do notice shapes and fall into awe. I was able to make a self to text connection because using my imagination I saw a crown, and my name is Princess so it was perfect for me.

[Gianni Llano · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nice to read this book when the discussion of weather is brought to a class of younger children. This book will open discussion on how they too see clouds moving and changing shape.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and engaging book about a cloud that shifts into different shapes.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

simple illustrations

[Erin Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to one of the little boys I babysit. It's pretty cute.

[Alexandra Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Cloud follows the story of the smallest cloud trailing behind much bigger clouds. Little Cloud was slower than the other clouds and did not reach as high as the authors did. However, each day little cloud grew bigger and stronger and was able to keep up with the other clouds. As Little Cloud got bigger it began to turn into other shapes and figures. Little Cloud changed into shapes like clowns, airplanes, and different animals. In the end, Little Clown figured out that if it stays with the other clouds they can work together to form one big cloud together.

The details of the cloud interacting with different shapes shows children how they can be whatever they want to be. The details also show how children can work together to build teamwork with other children. This book is successful in showing growth and changing mindsets that children can have as they grow older. I enjoy this story because it is an easy way to teach children about growth and teamwork. I plan to use this story as an example in my author study on Erik Carle.

[Jenni Zeller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein Büchlein für junge Träumer & Wolkenbewunderer

Vor fünfzig Jahren hat Eric Carles "Kleine Raupe Nimmersatt" sich auf eine Reise um die ganze Welt und die Herzen zahlloser Kinder und Erwachsener begeben. Ihre Kumpanen "Der Kleine Käfer Immerfrech" und "Die Kleine Spinne spinnt und schweigt" sind auch sehr bekannt. Doch viele wissen gar nicht, dass der Amerikaner noch zahlreiche andere Kinderbücher selbst geschrieben und illustriert hat; unter anderem sogar Bücher zum Zahlen und Wörter lernen.

Als ich noch ein Kind war, hatte ich ein Notizbuch, in dem ich meine Naturabenteuer dokumentierte – Vogelsafari, Tierrettung, Wolkenbeobachtung. "Die Kleine Wolke" ist perfekt für Letzteres: Dem eigensinnigen Wölkchen sind in ihrer Wandelbarkeit keine Grenzen gesetzt und ob klein, groß oder gemeinsam mit anderen Wolken, die Himmelserscheinung lädt zum Staunen ein. Und selbst, wenn es regnet, sind Wolken ein Kunstwerk der Natur.