It is sad but true that no one is ever pleased to see Cyril the cloud. He's always being blamed for ruining everyone's fun: casting shadows over everywhere he goes, and making things look dull and miserable. So, one day, Cyril drifts far, far away in search of a friendly face: over farmland, towns, and an ocean . . . Eventually he arrives in a new land whose ground is baking hot. Here everyone welcomes the shade Cyril gives. This makes Cyril so happy that he cries big glorious tears of joy. And his tears soak the land and everything seems to smile. And that is all Cyril ever wanted - to look down on the world and see a happy smile. A beautiful story that taps right into what Tim Hopgood's books are all about: celebrating the natural world and promoting a positive outlook on life.
This is a book about the value of the gift that we have or what we give to other. In both the cases here, the value doesn't depends on the donor but the one at receiving end. We always cherish what we want or need rather than being happy with the gifts we get when we do not want them. If there is no utility of the thing we have been offered, we do not value it.
Same is the situation with this cloud named Sydney who was roaming at various places with his gift of providing rain all over but couldn't make the places happier as no one wants that water precipitation from sky. But when Sydney reached the dry land which was fuming with heat, the happiness revived with the arrival of rain. Sometimes it happened very late for us to get the relaxing moment when are humble and empathetic in helping others. But surely that nature of humility gives pleasure at last, so we shouldn't leave the habit of helping others.
There is very nice illustrations of the pattern placed, to go along with the storyline.
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.
Sidney is very sad cloud. All he wants to do is make people happy, but instead of making people smile, all he does is make everyone upset. People want him to go away. Hearing people say they want him gone hurts his feelings. He only wants to find a friend. So he goes off searching for someone who will embrace him and love him and want him around. He ends up traveling to a desert. The people who live in the hot, dry land are more than happy to see Sidney and Sidney can share his special gifts, offering shade from the flaming sun.
This powerful story of embracing who we are, and welcoming others, reaffirms the belief that everyone has special gifts and talents to offer the world. Everyone is unique and we all have a place in the world, even if sometimes we don't feel that way.
Charming illustrations with a hand painted, watercolor feel, were vivid and will keep children engaged, but also were simple enough not to overpower the message or be overstimulating.
This story was both entertaining and educational, which can be a tricky balance to maintain in a children’s book, and I will be suggesting it to teachers whenever possible. Incorporating social-emotional skills and topics such as this into children's picture books is a tried and true way to teach an important life skill in a way that is fun. This would be an amazing addition for classroom libraries, counselling offices and more.
I loved the premise of the book, that rain is and why we need rain is taken for granted. This book illustrates the bad and good. That when at want to do things outside we don't like the rain as it can mess up our plans. However the rain brings life to a location and people that really need it to survive and the cloud provides shade in heat.
If this book was just a bit longer and gave more examples I think it would be a 5 star read and a hit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flyaway books for this advanced reader copy. My view is voluntarily my own.
Sidney the Lonely Cloud is a heartwarming children's book written by Tim Hopgood. The story follows the journey of Sidney, a cloud who is on a quest to find a place where he can make people happy. However, no matter where he goes, people always seem to wish he would disappear. Despite this, Sidney persists in his quest and eventually finds a place where he is welcomed with open arms.
Hopgood's writing style is simple yet impactful, making it easy for young readers to follow along and understand the story's message. The illustrations are equally captivating, with bright colors and soft lines that perfectly capture the whimsical nature of the tale.
One of the most significant strengths of Sidney the Lonely Cloud is the way it addresses themes of loneliness and self-worth. Sidney's search for belonging will resonate with many children who have also struggled to find their place in the world. The story reminds readers that everyone has something valuable to offer, and sometimes, all it takes is a change in perspective to find our place in the world.
Overall, Sidney the Lonely Cloud is a charming and inspiring children's book that delivers an important message in a fun and accessible way. It is an excellent addition to any child's library and is sure to become a beloved favorite.
Poor Sidney. He's a little cloud that floats through the sky and just wants to make people happy. Unfortunately, people usually think he's going to ruin their plans and aren't pleased to see him. This makes him sad, but could there be a place where Sidney is welcome?
I'm conflicted about the message here. Sidney feels unwanted and sad, and this is resolved when he finds a place where his presence and gifts are necessary and needed. That's great, but it feels a little incomplete and arbitrary, especially for little minds that tend to see things in black and white. I'm not sure they'll understand the nuance of the story and may just be sad for Sidney or not understand why he was suddenly accepted.
That said, the art is absolutely gorgeous! The color and details are captivating. It will hold kids' attention well. It may be worth giving this a try and asking kids what they think about the story, how they would feel if they were Sidney, etc. It could make for a nice conversation-starter.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
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?
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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 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.
I received a digital copy of the book through NetGalley and the publisher. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
What a special and powerful story. Sidney is a cloud who wishes more than anything to make everyone happy and to see the smile on their faces. Sadly when people see him they just wish he would go away. So, Sidney leaves and crosses the skies and then starts to grow. Finally he covers a land that has been dry and creates shade and rain. Everyone is so happy he is there and Sidney can find happiness. We loved this story. It was so heartwarming simple text kept my little one's attention and the colorful illustrations created a wonderful story. I loved how the story showed children that we can all find where we belong and where we are happy. That everyone has their own unique gifts that they can share with others. This was a beautifully told story. I received this as an ARC but will be adding to our collection. I highly recommend this for families to share. It’s a great conversation started with our children to realize their uniqueness and discovering their gifts. I also recommend this book for early childhood classroom. Enjoy this treasure.
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.
All Sidney the cloud wants is to float around and see all the happy people. Unfortunately, whenever people see her they want her to leave. So Sidney leaves in search of somewhere she might belong.
This is a short and sweet book about a little cloud that just wants to fit in. It’s a great story to remind us that we might not always fit in everywhere we go. But just because some people don’t understand us and our likes and interested, it doesn’t mean that no one will. This book also shows perspective on how something may not be appreciated in one place but greatly appreciated in others. The illustrations were amazing. They are bright and vibrant, great for children and keeping their attention.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tim Hopgood and Flyaway Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was cute, with inviting, colorful illustrations and a simple story line for young children to follow. My only wish is that there had been a little more to the story, as Sidney developed as a character. I like the tie in to elements of weather, like how Sidney grew larger over water and shaded the land and rained when he got big and heavy. However, I felt like there was definitely more that could be told about Sidney's story. Also, the only time he was happy was when others liked him, and he was never happy with himself based on anything but the approval of others, which could send a negative message to children struggling with their own identities and being happy with who they are. Cute and colorful, but may require some additional explanation from teachers or family members to support students experiencing the same feelings as Sidney.
What if you were a dreary, dark raincloud? Well, in the book "Sidney the Lonely Cloud", children will meet Sidney - the cloud no one liked to see. People got mad whenever Sidney appeared at picnics, kite flying, camping, or walking around town! Why, you might ask? She brought wind and rain with her. Sidney decided to float above a very hot, dry land one day. The earth was cooled by Sidney's shadow. There was confusion among the animals. They enjoyed Sidney's shade from the scorching sun. Sidney was delighted by this. Sidney was moved to tears by this. She brought rain with her tears! Do you know what the animals did? To find out, you'll have to buy the book.
It starts out sad, but by the end you will be so glad you read it! I love the colorful illustrations. This is a book I highly recommend.
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!
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.
Sidney the Lonely Cloud by Tim Hopgood is about a cloud who just wants to see people smile but most people don't want to see him because they think he will ruin their day. Sidney is sad but moves on, gets bigger and floats to another part of the world where he is needed to provide shade and much needed rain. This book is a reminder to keep looking for where you are wanted if you aren't in the right group for you. The story and illustrations go well together. I'd recommend this for kids ages 2-10 or anyone who has ever felt lonely. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.
All Sidney wants to do is fit in and make people smile! However, when people see Sidney the cloud overhead, they want her to leave and they run off.
This is a short and great story to remind us that we might not always fit in everywhere we go. But just because some people don’t understand us and our likes and interested, it doesn’t mean that no one will. This book also shows perspective on how something may not be appreciated in one place but greatly appreciated in others. The illustrations were amazing. They are bright and vibrant, great for children and keeping their attention. I also like how it is easily relatable for adults as well.
All Sidney wants to do is fit in and make people smile! However, when people see Sidney the cloud overhead, they want her to leave and they run off.
This is a short and great story to remind us that we might not always fit in everywhere we go. But just because some people don’t understand us and our likes and interests, it doesn’t mean that no one will.
This book also gives us perspective on how something may not be appreciated in one place but greatly appreciated in others.
The illustrations were amazing. They are bright and vibrant, great for children and keeping their attention.
I also like how it is easily relatable for adults as well.
Sidney is lonely, everywhere she goes everyone wishes she would leave. While she just wants to make others happy she is always told to go away! After days of searching the world for friendship, growing larger and larger as she travels the ocean, Sidney finally arrives in a desert that is more than thrilled for her presence.
This was a lovely story about finding a different perspective, and finding the people who will love you for what you are. With beautiful illustrations, this story does a wonderful job of keeping its readers engaged, and is easy enough for younger readers.
This is a wonderful story about a cloud who just wants to make people smile but every time people saw it they wanted it to go away. Of course he is much appreciated in a hot place! I like the message of the book that we can take some things for granted and also that it’s okay to be yourself, because there will be someone who does like you. When I was reading it, I was saying I would love the cloud because of where we live, it’s so hot and I’m always wishing for cloud cover and rain. Sidney would definitely be welcomed here! The illustrations are beautiful and color. I enjoyed this book!
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.
This was such a cute book for children, especially those who are young and just learning to read on their own. The sentences are short and straightforward, and the illustrations are wonderfully done by the artist. The colors and pictures are sure to draw the eyes of children, and the story will teach them empathy even if it’s on the level of a rain cloud. It demonstrates the importance of clouds and rain while also keeping it easy and simple for the younger ones.
Overall, I rate this book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars
And would recommend it for parents of children and preschool- first grade kids.
This book hooked me in with the amazingly bright and striking illustrations and I stayed for the heartfelt message instead. It all comes down to this: we want to feel seen, loved and appreciated. Every last one of us. But sometimes, our actions aren't always interpreted as they were intended and that can leave us searching for more. But in that search, we can find our true selves AND the people who appreciate us. This may have been a picture book based on animals for children, but I think it's a picture book that every adult will find comfort in, too.
The illustrations are the main stand-out here, with bright colors and soft, appealing shapes. The text is very simple and suitable for young children, and the story focuses on a cloud that feels lonely because people are disappointed or run away when he arrives. In the end, he finds a place where people appreciate him. It's a cute story that invites conversation about how people see the same things differently based on their perspectives.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is adorable. Sydney is a cloud, a rain cloud. Whenever Sydney shows up most people are mad they’re angry. They want Sydney to go away so they can enjoy their fun in the sun. But Sydney just needed to find the right location. Someplace dry and very hot. Where rain is a blessed event that everybody comes out to take pardon. To smile to play to be excited. And Sydney gets to join in all the fun. Kids are going to love this book not just for the story but for the illustrations and it’s really nice to see how the same thing can be both good and bad all based on someone’s perception.
Such a cute book! Poor Sidney the cloud isn't feeling welcome. Everyone hopes the cloud would just go away. Sidney feels sad and travels across the ocean growing bigger. The cloud eventually brings shade and rain to people and animals who need it and they appreciate and smile at the cloud, making Sidney feel happy. A very sweet little story about appreciation and perspective for little ones. Beautiful illustrations as well!
I received an electronic ARC from Flyaway Books through NetGalley. Sydney wants to be part of the joy and fun, but, unfortunately, no one makes him feel welcome. They always leave when this cloud arrives. He runs away and finally finds a dry area where they welcome him with open arms and love having his rain and shade. Charming illustrations capture the sadness and then joy of finding out where you belong. A dialogue starter for young readers who don't feel like they belong.
Content: G Sidney looks down at the earth and just wants to see smiles. But Sidney is a rain cloud, and everyone frowns and complains when Sidney comes around. Is there anywhere for this cloud to belong? Everyone has a place where they can shine and be appreciated – even a rain cloud. This cute story invites readers to think about what they have to offer and see those around them in a new light. People of all skin tones are depicted in this book. Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
I enjoyed reading this book. Sidney, the Lonely Cloud, just wants to see people being happy. She feels lonely because everyone wants her to go away. She decides to leave and travels very far. Eventually, Sidney arrives at a desert. Everyone is excited about Sidney's arrival.
I loved the message and the illustrations. I only wish that the story was a bit longer.
*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.*