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Cleo
Cleo is verdrietig. Ze moet zich altijd haasten. Naar de bus. Op school.
Ze voelt zich vaak alleen. Daarom gaat ze op zoek naar een andere plek. Een plek waar ze zeemonsters verslaat en waar de wolken smaken naar slagroom. Alleen haar kat mag mee. Maar dat is buiten een jongen gerekend...
Een ontroerend en sfeervol verhaal over een meisje dat helemaal niet zo alleen is als ze altijd dacht.
Voor dagdromers vanaf 5 jaar.
Ze voelt zich vaak alleen. Daarom gaat ze op zoek naar een andere plek. Een plek waar ze zeemonsters verslaat en waar de wolken smaken naar slagroom. Alleen haar kat mag mee. Maar dat is buiten een jongen gerekend...
Een ontroerend en sfeervol verhaal over een meisje dat helemaal niet zo alleen is als ze altijd dacht.
Voor dagdromers vanaf 5 jaar.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2015
32 people want to read
About the author
Sassafras De Bruyn
24 books7 followersSassafras De Bruyn has a degree in illustrative design from St. Lucas Antwerp University College of Art & Design. Her other books include Everywhere All Around and Cleo. She lives in Ghent, Belgium, where she is the illustrator for the Kopergietery Children's and Youth Theatre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 22, 2016
Very imaginative story about a girl who dreams of sailing off with her best friend, her cat Amadeus, and imagines adventures, wondrous sights, and perhaps meeting a new friend.
The artwork in this picture book is lovely. Beautifully illustrating the story, and inspiring imagination.
I was disappointed that the text is mostly in cursive font, which does not make it very accessible for kids to read on their own, or trying to recognize words as an adult reads to them.
I received a free, expiring, copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The artwork in this picture book is lovely. Beautifully illustrating the story, and inspiring imagination.
I was disappointed that the text is mostly in cursive font, which does not make it very accessible for kids to read on their own, or trying to recognize words as an adult reads to them.
I received a free, expiring, copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2016
Cleo feels overwhelmed because all that is expected from her. She is also sad since she doesn't seem to fit among her peers. Is in these moments that she sails to explore and conquer her imagination, bringing with her only her cat Amadeus. She visits many places, and somewhere she meets a boy who becomes her friend. He is not an imaginary friend, but another dreamy kid who found Cleo in some magical land. They fight monsters and face storms. They tell stories to the sea animals and climb to the sky. And they keep company to each other when the magic trip comes to an end.
Cleo's story is touching, and I am sure many kids will relate with her experiences. The illustrations are incredibly beautiful. The only thing that prevents me of giving this book 5 stars is the font, which I found hard to help kids to read. I am eager to check for more of this author's work.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk
Cleo's story is touching, and I am sure many kids will relate with her experiences. The illustrations are incredibly beautiful. The only thing that prevents me of giving this book 5 stars is the font, which I found hard to help kids to read. I am eager to check for more of this author's work.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk
May 22, 2016
I recently got some childrens books from Clavis Books. They are a Belgium imprint, and the books have all been outstanding so far. My favorite of the bunch is 'Cleo' by Sassafras de Bruyn.
Cleo is a sad little girl that is tired of having to hurry to the bus, or being made fun of for wearing glasses. She dreams of a day when she'll leave the humdrum behind and go on adventures with her cat, Amadeus. She will sail away and battle sea monsters. Maybe she'll meet a friend along the way so she'll realize she's not as alone as she thinks she is.
I love the darker tone of this one. Many children's books are upbeat and happy, but this one acknowledges loneliness. The pictures are incredible, whether it's a sailboat with a patchwork sail, or a lagoon full or spiny sea monsters or a ladder to the clouds for a fluffy nap, I loved their imagination. Cleo is in need of a friend, and she meets a boy, but the lesson doesn't seem to be that girls need boys, just that children need friends. I adored this book.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Clavis Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Cleo is a sad little girl that is tired of having to hurry to the bus, or being made fun of for wearing glasses. She dreams of a day when she'll leave the humdrum behind and go on adventures with her cat, Amadeus. She will sail away and battle sea monsters. Maybe she'll meet a friend along the way so she'll realize she's not as alone as she thinks she is.
I love the darker tone of this one. Many children's books are upbeat and happy, but this one acknowledges loneliness. The pictures are incredible, whether it's a sailboat with a patchwork sail, or a lagoon full or spiny sea monsters or a ladder to the clouds for a fluffy nap, I loved their imagination. Cleo is in need of a friend, and she meets a boy, but the lesson doesn't seem to be that girls need boys, just that children need friends. I adored this book.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Clavis Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
August 26, 2017
Fotoreseña: https://goo.gl/qVBtkj
Es un libro con una historia sencilla pero con un valioso mensaje sobre la amistad e imaginación. Y ni hablar de las hermosas ilustraciones que tiene.
Mi única crítica para la edición es la tipografía en cursiva que usaron en las ilustraciones, es un libro para niños por lo que hubiese sido ideal que usaran algo más simple que pudieran leer fácilmente los niños. Aquí es imprescindible la presencia de un adulto para la lectura.
Es un libro con una historia sencilla pero con un valioso mensaje sobre la amistad e imaginación. Y ni hablar de las hermosas ilustraciones que tiene.
Mi única crítica para la edición es la tipografía en cursiva que usaron en las ilustraciones, es un libro para niños por lo que hubiese sido ideal que usaran algo más simple que pudieran leer fácilmente los niños. Aquí es imprescindible la presencia de un adulto para la lectura.
September 27, 2020
La historia de Cleo es realmente muy sencilla, se lee rapidísimo, tanto que, si no se concentra uno lo suficiente, podría pasarse por alto el mensaje tan bonito que trae. Ya desde las ilustraciones, tan hermosas y que buscan proyectarte lo que siente y vive Cleo, puede uno ir dándose cuenta de lo que nos trata de contar este cuento.
La historia de Cleo es una buena forma de explicarle a los pequeños que se vale ser diferentes, que se vale no "encajar" en los cánones que pone la sociedad y que se vale ser uno mismo. Cleo es una chica que vive apartada de todo porque nadie parece comprender lo que a ella le gusta, la imaginación tan desbordante que tiene y la creatividad que viene con ello.
Cleo nos recuerda que en algún lugar, hay una persona (o muchas) que se sienten igual que nosotros, que no estamos tan solos como imaginamos y que ser fieles a nuestros ideales y a nosotros mismos nos traerá muchas alegrías. No cabe duda que es un libro corto, pero muy emotivo que se disfruta mucho y que puede ayudar a los pequeños del hogar a quererse más a sí mismos, a aceptarse como son.
La edición, como siempre, está hermosa. Las ilustraciones, la calidad del papel y del encuadernado. El único detalle es quizá el tipo de fuente que no destaca, se ve muy linda, pero se pierde entre las ilustraciones y además, creo que podría ser un poco difícil de entender para algunos pequeñines.This review was originally posted on Book's Minion
La historia de Cleo es una buena forma de explicarle a los pequeños que se vale ser diferentes, que se vale no "encajar" en los cánones que pone la sociedad y que se vale ser uno mismo. Cleo es una chica que vive apartada de todo porque nadie parece comprender lo que a ella le gusta, la imaginación tan desbordante que tiene y la creatividad que viene con ello.
Cleo nos recuerda que en algún lugar, hay una persona (o muchas) que se sienten igual que nosotros, que no estamos tan solos como imaginamos y que ser fieles a nuestros ideales y a nosotros mismos nos traerá muchas alegrías. No cabe duda que es un libro corto, pero muy emotivo que se disfruta mucho y que puede ayudar a los pequeños del hogar a quererse más a sí mismos, a aceptarse como son.
La edición, como siempre, está hermosa. Las ilustraciones, la calidad del papel y del encuadernado. El único detalle es quizá el tipo de fuente que no destaca, se ve muy linda, pero se pierde entre las ilustraciones y además, creo que podría ser un poco difícil de entender para algunos pequeñines.This review was originally posted on Book's Minion
May 19, 2016
For Daydreamers
This is a beautifully drawn picture book with a fantastical, upbeat daydream/adventure theme. The blurbs make it sound like Cleo's a sad/lonely/hassled downer who needs to escape, but that's not really the feel you get from the book. Sure, she needs to escape from rules and bedtimes and the school bus, but that's just a setup, not a sour vibe.
And once Cleo is off on her adventure, well, it is pretty glorious. She messes about in boats, and explores a cave, and fights sea monsters, and tells stories, and sleeps on whipped cream clouds. The whole tale is a riot of imagination, color, energy, excitement and limitless horizons. Halfway through a boy playmate/sidekick appears, which adds even more energy and hinted at possibility.
This is good stuff. The drawings are vaguely impressionistic in a dashing sort of fashion, and are colorful in a slightly restrained but still arresting way. There are lots of details and bits of business around the margins of the main drawings, and vaguely surreal, (are those fish in the sky?), touches that make the illustrations both accessible and sophisticated.
As an interesting choice the text is in a cursive font. Cursive picture books are pretty uncommon, but the text hear is rythmic but accessible, and the cursive font adds a real touch of elegance to the project.
So, this is the kind of picture book that encourages study and multiple readings, and entertains on many levels. A very nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is a beautifully drawn picture book with a fantastical, upbeat daydream/adventure theme. The blurbs make it sound like Cleo's a sad/lonely/hassled downer who needs to escape, but that's not really the feel you get from the book. Sure, she needs to escape from rules and bedtimes and the school bus, but that's just a setup, not a sour vibe.
And once Cleo is off on her adventure, well, it is pretty glorious. She messes about in boats, and explores a cave, and fights sea monsters, and tells stories, and sleeps on whipped cream clouds. The whole tale is a riot of imagination, color, energy, excitement and limitless horizons. Halfway through a boy playmate/sidekick appears, which adds even more energy and hinted at possibility.
This is good stuff. The drawings are vaguely impressionistic in a dashing sort of fashion, and are colorful in a slightly restrained but still arresting way. There are lots of details and bits of business around the margins of the main drawings, and vaguely surreal, (are those fish in the sky?), touches that make the illustrations both accessible and sophisticated.
As an interesting choice the text is in a cursive font. Cursive picture books are pretty uncommon, but the text hear is rythmic but accessible, and the cursive font adds a real touch of elegance to the project.
So, this is the kind of picture book that encourages study and multiple readings, and entertains on many levels. A very nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
May 30, 2016
[E-copy of the book kindly provided through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
Very beautifully-rendered illustrations in this book. They were simple, and yet, the more I looked, I found that they were not quite that easily categorized under “simple.” While at first glance, the illustrations appear a little plain (for lack of a better word), the more one looks at them, the more one will notice intricate little details, as well as the exact precision with which these drawings were created.
The story was a heart-warming one, and one certainly suited for daydreamers (as the description indicates). It teaches that even if life may seem tough, and one may feel friendless, that they will be rewarded if they are patient. What I took away from the story, is that one must wait and make room for someone precious in your life, even if they come a little late.
I did really enjoy how the writing was different from the orthodox horizontal lines, but rather adjusted to each particular part of the story, changing along with the intensity of Cleo’s imaginations. I am not sure, however, if I like the cursive writing all too much. I know what was meant to be accomplished, but I am not too sure if the font choice works for me.
Otherwise, a fantastic book. I feel like it would be a book which I would return to again and again, and I believe that this would also be the case with children.
Very beautifully-rendered illustrations in this book. They were simple, and yet, the more I looked, I found that they were not quite that easily categorized under “simple.” While at first glance, the illustrations appear a little plain (for lack of a better word), the more one looks at them, the more one will notice intricate little details, as well as the exact precision with which these drawings were created.
The story was a heart-warming one, and one certainly suited for daydreamers (as the description indicates). It teaches that even if life may seem tough, and one may feel friendless, that they will be rewarded if they are patient. What I took away from the story, is that one must wait and make room for someone precious in your life, even if they come a little late.
I did really enjoy how the writing was different from the orthodox horizontal lines, but rather adjusted to each particular part of the story, changing along with the intensity of Cleo’s imaginations. I am not sure, however, if I like the cursive writing all too much. I know what was meant to be accomplished, but I am not too sure if the font choice works for me.
Otherwise, a fantastic book. I feel like it would be a book which I would return to again and again, and I believe that this would also be the case with children.
April 26, 2015
Dit eerste boek van illustratrice Sassafras De Bruyn is heel fantasierijk en sfeervol. De illustraties zijn prachtig van kleur en heel bijzonder om te zien.
De eenzaamheid straalt aanvankelijk van Cleo af en het is mooi om te zien hoe ze opbloeit als ze op reis gaat en haar dromen laat uitkomen.
In het verhaal is de ontmoeting met de jongen heel belangrijk maar op de verder erge mooie afbeelding, komt die gebeurtenis niet zo goed uit de verf. De jongen en zijn papegaai worden vrij klein weergegeven, waardoor ze tussen de sterrenbomen en rondzwevende dieren nauwelijks opvallen.
De afbeelding van de zeemeermingrot is eveneens prachtig om te zien maar de zeemeerminnen zelf vallen pas bij nadere bestudering van de afbeelding op. Ze zijn met heel dun potlood weergegeven.
Maar verder... knalt de actie en het plezier van de pagina's af. Het gevecht met de zeemonsters is spectaculair, evenals de sfeervolle warm oranje gekleurde pagina waar de zeedieren luisteren naar alle verhalen van Cleo en de jongen. Fantastisch weergegeven.
Ook de laatste pagina is heerlijk om te zien, Cleo en de jongen op het schoolplein met achter de school... enkele verdwijnende drakenstaarten!
Gezien de aard van het verhaal en de mooie afbeeldingen ben ik er zeker van dat Sassafras de Bruyn een prachtige schrijvers- en illustratietoekomst te wachten staat. Heel bijzonder boek.
De eenzaamheid straalt aanvankelijk van Cleo af en het is mooi om te zien hoe ze opbloeit als ze op reis gaat en haar dromen laat uitkomen.
In het verhaal is de ontmoeting met de jongen heel belangrijk maar op de verder erge mooie afbeelding, komt die gebeurtenis niet zo goed uit de verf. De jongen en zijn papegaai worden vrij klein weergegeven, waardoor ze tussen de sterrenbomen en rondzwevende dieren nauwelijks opvallen.
De afbeelding van de zeemeermingrot is eveneens prachtig om te zien maar de zeemeerminnen zelf vallen pas bij nadere bestudering van de afbeelding op. Ze zijn met heel dun potlood weergegeven.
Maar verder... knalt de actie en het plezier van de pagina's af. Het gevecht met de zeemonsters is spectaculair, evenals de sfeervolle warm oranje gekleurde pagina waar de zeedieren luisteren naar alle verhalen van Cleo en de jongen. Fantastisch weergegeven.
Ook de laatste pagina is heerlijk om te zien, Cleo en de jongen op het schoolplein met achter de school... enkele verdwijnende drakenstaarten!
Gezien de aard van het verhaal en de mooie afbeeldingen ben ik er zeker van dat Sassafras de Bruyn een prachtige schrijvers- en illustratietoekomst te wachten staat. Heel bijzonder boek.
May 19, 2016
Cleo is a lonely and imaginative little girl who dreams of adventure. The full page illustrations of Cleo and her cat Amadeus on their adventures are very magical and dreamlike. It's yet another children's book where I want to hang all the gorgeous pages on a wall! While I loved the whimsical fonts, I did think the script font was a little hard to read, especially for beginning readers.
By the end, Cleo meets another daydreamer and she isn't so lonely anymore. One of my favorite pages was when Cleo and her new friend battle sea monsters. The way the text is incorporated into the illustration is beautiful and there is so much movement! I also loved the illustration of the magic sea woods.
Cleo is an imaginative little book. This book is for "daydreamers 5 & up." I think even children who aren't reading yet will be able to appreciate the large scale pictures. It would be great for a parent and child to experience together. It even inspired me to daydream and I am way outside of the target demographic!
________________
I received this book for free from Clavis Books & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
By the end, Cleo meets another daydreamer and she isn't so lonely anymore. One of my favorite pages was when Cleo and her new friend battle sea monsters. The way the text is incorporated into the illustration is beautiful and there is so much movement! I also loved the illustration of the magic sea woods.
Cleo is an imaginative little book. This book is for "daydreamers 5 & up." I think even children who aren't reading yet will be able to appreciate the large scale pictures. It would be great for a parent and child to experience together. It even inspired me to daydream and I am way outside of the target demographic!
________________
I received this book for free from Clavis Books & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 20, 2016
This is a wonderful picture book with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. They are full page and the colours make them very magical and imaginative. The only problem I have with this book is the font. Being in script, it is difficult to read and will be almost impossible for young readers.
Cleo is a sad, lonely little girl who dreams of adventure. She is always being yelled at, hurry up Cleo, tidy your room Cleo, Don't miss the bus Cleo. She has a wonderful imagination that she uses to escape this world. She and her cat, Amadeus, head off in a boat to a land faraway to see new things. While she is there, she sees a boy. He is another day dreamer and they realize that they are not alone. Together they see mermaids, battle sea monsters, tell each other stories and take on the whole world.
Cleo is an imaginative little book. This book is for "daydreamers 5 & up." This book could definiely be read to young children who can not read on their own and it would be great for a parent and child to experience together. This story inspires children to imagine and daydream as well as to realize that they are not alone, there will always be someone out there with the same interests as them.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cleo is a sad, lonely little girl who dreams of adventure. She is always being yelled at, hurry up Cleo, tidy your room Cleo, Don't miss the bus Cleo. She has a wonderful imagination that she uses to escape this world. She and her cat, Amadeus, head off in a boat to a land faraway to see new things. While she is there, she sees a boy. He is another day dreamer and they realize that they are not alone. Together they see mermaids, battle sea monsters, tell each other stories and take on the whole world.
Cleo is an imaginative little book. This book is for "daydreamers 5 & up." This book could definiely be read to young children who can not read on their own and it would be great for a parent and child to experience together. This story inspires children to imagine and daydream as well as to realize that they are not alone, there will always be someone out there with the same interests as them.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2016
First off beautiful illustrations, but if modern school children are not taught cursive, this book will not last long. It is a dying skill, and will soon be a lost language. I have had a few grandparents already say they can use cursive to send secret messages because no one under the age of ten could read it. Cleo, has an imagination and knows how to use it. Meeting a new friend makes her days active and fun. No more reason to be lonely.
May 21, 2016
when I search for a book for my class I always look for beautiful illustrations. this book has amazing pictures that attract my children in a second! the story is so beautiful and children can really relate to it! I love this book! searching for more!
May 25, 2016
"An Advanced Review Copy Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in Exchange for an Honest Review".
Absolutely a cute little heart-touching story....!! Nice illustrations..!! Love it..!! :) :)
Absolutely a cute little heart-touching story....!! Nice illustrations..!! Love it..!! :) :)
June 20, 2016
A book about loneliness and the imaginative power of friendship. Gorgeous illustrations!
February 4, 2017
Fanciful illustrations to match the imaginative musings of Cleo, who transforms her lonesome me into a joyful we.
December 22, 2017
“Juntos podemos con todo el mundo” – Sassafras de Bruyn
Hoy les traigo una reseña de un libro infantil, se trata de Cleo, novedad del mes de julio de Ediciones Urano. El libro pertenece al sello Uranito, y como siempre les digo, no podemos esperar otra cosa más que calidad para los pequeños lectores.
Me ha gustado mucho el libro, tanto la historia como todas las ilustraciones, que por cierto, han sido realizadas por la autora Sassafras de Bruyn, además es su debut como escritora y vaya que lo ha hecho de una manera impecable, pues nos ofrece un exquisito relato muy conmovedor y lleno de ilusión sobre una niña que no está tan sola como pensaba…
Cleo es una de esas niñas solitarias que en ocasiones solemos encontrar en cualquier rincón, se puede decir que no es muy feliz puesto que no tiene amigos, le es complicado acatar las reglas que imponen sus padres, pero un día no aguanta más y decide vivir una gran aventura en compañía de su inseparable y mejor amigo, Amadeus, su gato. Me pareció genial que la autora incluyera a una mascota como un fiel compañero porque en ocasiones son quienes conviven más con este tipo de niños. Lo mejor de todo es que no es un perro, como suele ocurrir en la mayoría de las historias. Los gatos también son aventureros y grandes amigos.
Otro detalle que me ha parecido grandioso es que conforme va avanzando la historia los colores de las ilustraciones van cambiando, al inicio la vida de Cleo es gris, apagada, pero en cuanto inicia la aventura su mundo se va transformando, se van pintando de llamativos colores todos los escenarios y eso ocurre en la vida real. Cuando somos felices todo se transforma, nuestra perspectiva no es la misma, lo vemos todo con “otros ojos” y eso se refleja a la perfección en pequeño libro.
Y por último, la amistad juega un papel muy importante en este libro. En su travesía, Cleo conoce a un niño muy especial con quien vivirá grandes e inolvidables momentos; navegarán a la cueva de las sirenas, se enfrentarán a horripilantes monstruos y bailarán hasta cansarse. Pero lo más importante es que se mantendrán juntos. Cleo ya no estará sola…
La edición del libro es muy bonita. La portada, su interior, la historia, en fin, todo. Definitivamente es uno de los mejores libros infantiles que he leído.
Hoy les traigo una reseña de un libro infantil, se trata de Cleo, novedad del mes de julio de Ediciones Urano. El libro pertenece al sello Uranito, y como siempre les digo, no podemos esperar otra cosa más que calidad para los pequeños lectores.
Me ha gustado mucho el libro, tanto la historia como todas las ilustraciones, que por cierto, han sido realizadas por la autora Sassafras de Bruyn, además es su debut como escritora y vaya que lo ha hecho de una manera impecable, pues nos ofrece un exquisito relato muy conmovedor y lleno de ilusión sobre una niña que no está tan sola como pensaba…
Cleo es una de esas niñas solitarias que en ocasiones solemos encontrar en cualquier rincón, se puede decir que no es muy feliz puesto que no tiene amigos, le es complicado acatar las reglas que imponen sus padres, pero un día no aguanta más y decide vivir una gran aventura en compañía de su inseparable y mejor amigo, Amadeus, su gato. Me pareció genial que la autora incluyera a una mascota como un fiel compañero porque en ocasiones son quienes conviven más con este tipo de niños. Lo mejor de todo es que no es un perro, como suele ocurrir en la mayoría de las historias. Los gatos también son aventureros y grandes amigos.
Otro detalle que me ha parecido grandioso es que conforme va avanzando la historia los colores de las ilustraciones van cambiando, al inicio la vida de Cleo es gris, apagada, pero en cuanto inicia la aventura su mundo se va transformando, se van pintando de llamativos colores todos los escenarios y eso ocurre en la vida real. Cuando somos felices todo se transforma, nuestra perspectiva no es la misma, lo vemos todo con “otros ojos” y eso se refleja a la perfección en pequeño libro.
Y por último, la amistad juega un papel muy importante en este libro. En su travesía, Cleo conoce a un niño muy especial con quien vivirá grandes e inolvidables momentos; navegarán a la cueva de las sirenas, se enfrentarán a horripilantes monstruos y bailarán hasta cansarse. Pero lo más importante es que se mantendrán juntos. Cleo ya no estará sola…
La edición del libro es muy bonita. La portada, su interior, la historia, en fin, todo. Definitivamente es uno de los mejores libros infantiles que he leído.
February 16, 2017
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Surrounded by dark, murky colors, Cleo is overwhelmed with the tribbles of the real world, saddened by others making fun of her, and wants to escape it all. The darker hues and Cleo's sad demeanor in the beginning may be off-putting to adult readers but De Bruyn does not sugar-coat Cleo's perspective as an outsider and her need to escape into the refuge of her imagination.
Surrounded by dark, murky colors, Cleo is overwhelmed with the tribbles of the real world, saddened by others making fun of her, and wants to escape it all. The darker hues and Cleo's sad demeanor in the beginning may be off-putting to adult readers but De Bruyn does not sugar-coat Cleo's perspective as an outsider and her need to escape into the refuge of her imagination.
March 31, 2023
Not sure what to make of this one. It was supposed to send me on a fantastical journey and make me happy, but all I managed to do was feel sad and concerned for Cleo. The beginning and the end are very gloomy and lacking any sort of explanation of her context made me think she was experiencing something undesirable like being institutionalized, bullied by her peers or parents etc. Even her escapes seem sad.
August 2, 2017
Beautiful picture book.
December 28, 2018
Much thanks to Myra @ gathering books for turning me on to this book. It is a visually stunning testimony to the power of imagination and friendship.
September 27, 2018
Magical!
Want to read
April 18, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 11, 2022
Es lindo, me recuerda cuando de pequeña iba a la biblioteca pública de mi ciudad y leía historias como estás, creo que es perfecta para los más pequeños
May 27, 2022
Nice read!
February 7, 2023
Fijn en lief!
May 29, 2024
3 1/2 stars
It’s got fantastic imagery, but that’s about it
It’s got fantastic imagery, but that’s about it
October 2, 2016
Cleo dreams of sailing toward the horizon, away from chores and bullies who make fun of her glasses. She would bring her cat and explore forests of stars and mermaid caves, and she would lean that she is brave! And that it's more fun to have adventures with a friend along.
Dream-like illustration in watercolor and pastel bring vivid life to the simple words.
Reminiscent of Shaun Tan
May 27, 2016
Cleo is a lovely story about the value of friendship. Cleo lives in a lonely world where she has little control over her own life and the things she has to do, she always has to hurry, hurry, hurry. Instead she would rather dream of sailing away to battle dangerous foes or enchant them with stories, she wants to discover and explore magical places. When Cleo makes a friend she finds that her imaginative world is even more fun to explore and with a friend by your side the real world becomes a lot more bearable.
There's not a lot of plot in this book, but I don't think that plot is always necessary for picture books, the message and tone of the book is often more important.
The illustrations are stunning and complex. I loved the use of drab grays for the real world and bright colors for Cleo's imaginative world.
Cleo is the type of book my kids (2 & 5) will ask me read over and over again every night.
The cursive font was difficult to read on my digital copy. In addition, it is not something my 5 year old would be able to read on her own as a beginning reader, I often have her help read picture books but the cursive font was just too intimidating for her.
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley.
There's not a lot of plot in this book, but I don't think that plot is always necessary for picture books, the message and tone of the book is often more important.
The illustrations are stunning and complex. I loved the use of drab grays for the real world and bright colors for Cleo's imaginative world.
Cleo is the type of book my kids (2 & 5) will ask me read over and over again every night.
The cursive font was difficult to read on my digital copy. In addition, it is not something my 5 year old would be able to read on her own as a beginning reader, I often have her help read picture books but the cursive font was just too intimidating for her.
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley.
June 7, 2016
I am really looking forward to reading this beautifully illustrated book with my students. With the document camera, I can zoom in and let them really focus on various parts of a book and there is much to look at closely in this lovely tale of a frustrated and lonely girl whose vivid imagination leads her to a connection with someone with whom to share some amazing adventures. This lovely story lends itself to many possible lessons after a nice read-aloud. Using both cursive and print, the story will give students practice in decoding the illusive cursive code, and figurative language use abounds. I will be purchasing this one for our K-5 library.
Review based on NetGalley eBook provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Review based on NetGalley eBook provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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