When Cloud Became a Cloud

by Rob Hodgson

Meet Cloud! Follow along as she moves, transforms, precipitates, and more in this charming and humorous portrayal of the water cycle.The lifecycle of our protagonist, Cloud, is delightfully and sparsely narrated in nine short chapters that follow the stages of the water cycle. Young readers will immediately fall for this wide-eyed puff, and welcome facts along with humor and personality as they bask in the accomplishment of breezing through each chapter.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Childrens, Nature, Stem

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2021

About the author

Rob Hodgson is an illustrator and designer with a deep interest in how and why we make pictures. He grew up on a healthy dose of skateboarding and Morrissey in an English seaside town. He now lives in Bristol with his girlfriend and two highly intelligent cats.

oday he lives in Bristol where he spends his days making a mess and turning it into quality illustration projects and books. He cites Yoko Ono, Ed Templeton and Arthur Russell among his influences.

Reviews

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Rise x Penguin Workshop in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I remember reading a book similar to this but it was all full of facts and information with the pictures being very basic. This was the complete opposite of basic and it had the perfect blend of creativity mending with facts and other information. The illustrations were cleverly constructed and I love how Rob Hodgson made the cloud as he put it the protagonist and he made it the cloud's autobiography and that was just pure brilliance.

We will consider adding this title to our J Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adorable early chapter book walks through the stages of the water cycle in 9 chapters, beginning with the formation of a Cloud. The artwork is sometimes in big page spreads and sometimes in graphic novel style. I liked that this picture book addressed not only rain, but also snow and the formation of fog. It was quite entertaining and will make a great addition to any children's or school library whether it is read for pleasure or part of a study of the water cycle. The art was created with traditional media and an iPad, then assembled in Photoshop.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!!

[Eunice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have a fun and educational time as you float along with Cloud. Short chapters…
1. How Cloud becomes a cloud.
2. How Cloud works with Wind.
3. How Cloud makes snow.
4. How Cloud becomes fog.
5. How Cloud becomes full/grey.
6. When Cloud rains.
7. Cloud becomes part of a storm (lightning).
8. Cloud sees a rainbow.
9. Full circle, more clouds made.

Kindergarten+.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the information in this potentially overlaps too much with a book I already have for homeschool (A Drop Around the World), but from the perspective of the cloud instead of the water droplet. That being said, it does have a decent overview of how thunderstorms form for younger kids.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite water cycle book I ever read.

[Claire Wrobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the mini chapters and how it explains the water cycle. Illustrations are cute and simple but still beautiful.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many water cycle books with my kiddo, but they never piqued interest. This one is perfect as a read-aloud bedtime story, personified enough to make sense without sacrificing the science, and all-round perfect. Not only my 6 year old (who I got it for) but even my 3 year old is interested, and enjoys discussing the cloud party happening when we see a storm on the horizon. Terrific book, will recommend to teachers as well as parents and kids.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining introduction to weather and the water cycle for pre-school children, or students who are learning to read. Short sentences, simple vocabulary, and cute cartoon illustrations inform without overwhelming the reader.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute art and educational!

[Sunday]

Sometimes anthropomorphism of nature works. See Stacy McAnulty's books. This book worries me, though. Phrases like "Wind blows a strong gust of cool air, reminding Cloud that it's time to float back into the sky. She's done being Fog for now." Ummm...no. The wind does not "remind" clouds to do anything; sometimes clouds rise or fog lifts because of wind. There's no indication in the narrative of what really happens here. (Another example, water droplets in the air "are so excited to be together that they get closer and closer, until...they make a cloud!") There are some places in the book that purport to get at what's really happening but it would be difficult for primary grade students to differentiate. In McAnulty's books it's easy to tell fact from fiction (mostly). Hodgson's book is not as easy and given the primary grade audience, I think there's room for confusion. What might have helped is BACK MATTER, explaining in non-narrative terms or with graphics the water cycle so young readers can clarify for themselves but there is none.

MAYBE read this aloud as part of a PAIRED TEXT.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

Short, informative, populated with cute clouds. . . .describes on very basic level the conditions that create clouds (generally) and how the lands they float over determine their type and form.

My crew enjoyed it, and it went just as deep into the topic as they wanted (which wasn't deep!).

[Mikaila Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cloud Became a Cloud talks about how simply a cloud became a cloud. The clouds name is cloud and throughout the book we go through her journey about what a cloud does. First we learn about the dun and she warms up the lake all day so when the water droplets float to the sky to cool off, they come together to form, Cloud. When Cloud comes in contact with wind, wind blows Cloud all over the world which Cloud loves to do, travel. Sometimes when Cloud becomes to cold some of her water droplets start to freeze. When they freeze together they become heavy snowflakes that eventually fall down to the ground as snow. Next chapter talks about when Cloud becomes fog, she is still a cloud, just a low one. Cloud sometimes will eventually invite too many water droplets that she becomes super heavy and then she rains and let's it all out. Once she feels light she makes friends with the other clouds who are super friendly, too friendly to say the least. They all become squashed after becoming too close and they burst! Out comes the rain and when the cold and warm water droplets come together, boom! Lightning comes out. After the storm Cloud feels light again and they cycle starts all over.

In this cute little book I learn about Cloud, a cloud and I loved it! This book was such a cute way to learn about the cycles of a cloud and all the things they do and how they form. I think I even learned a thing or two myself.

This book would be great in the classroom when talking about a certain science unit or even the weather. Kids see clouds everyday and I am sure they are curious as to where they come from and what their purpose is.

[Ann-marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful illustrated depiction of the water cycle. Hodgson begins with a sun—“Hot stuff”—over a lake, and Cloud is created through the droplets that float from the lake to the sky. Cloud goes through a metamorphosis in every chapter, incorporating breezy lessons on fog, rainbows, storm systems, snow, and rain. For example, Wind befriends Cloud and blows him around the sky. Sun and Wind work together to blow Cloud through cities, mountains, and countryside. Cloud is blown into a very cold place that allows some of its water droplets to freeze and become snowflakes that fall from the sky to the ground. Wind continues to blow Cloud into cold regions. Cloud becomes fascinated with the water droplets down in the snow and floats down to see them. Cloud goes so low that it generates fog. Cloud makes friends with other clouds, and is awestruck when Sun shines light through droplets after a storm to create a rainbow. The book is divided into easy chapters that invite closer inspection of smiling raindrops and other friendly elements. The science is serious, the explanations cheerful, and children will come away with a fairly extensive understanding of how clouds become clouds.VERDICT A simplified but terrific tale, perfect for beginning readers or anyone seeking an exciting and funny science story.

[Kylie Keller]

Summarize the plot of the story.
The main idea of the story is to teach the cycle of water. The water goes through each stage of its cycle to explain thoroughly how the water dries up, freezes, rains, snows, and all the rest.

Describe the character(s) within the story.
The characters are the different forms of water. each give insightful knowledge for a student kindergarten through third grade, on how they work. They are very brief.

Discuss the text structure/characterization/illustrations.
The text is very short and simple for a younger student to be able to read. The book is based less on the text and more on the pictures. The illustrations take up most of the book with double pages and small windows of illustrations. The book is entirely centered around the pictures. The words help you understand the book better, but they are almost not needed.

What do you like (dislike) about the book?
I really like the illustrations and how colorful they are. I think they are very detailed and helpful for the reader, along with enjoyable. I did not find anything that I disliked about the book.

How could you use this book in the classroom? Provide examples.
I think that I can use this book when I teach the water cycle, or even with season changes. It can help students understand what is going on outside with the weather they see.

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cloud Became a Cloud by Rob Hodgson.
Join cloud as she...well...becomes a cloud! This is just SO ADORABLE! We got this book from the library for science (we were studying clouds at the time) and anyone who knows my family knows that my mom hates science and finds it the most boring thing on Earth. 😆 My mom started reading this book aloud to me and she absolutely lit up! She was doing different voices and getting all animated. When she finished the book she shut it and yelled "I LOVE THIS BOOK! BEST SCIENCE BOOK I'VE EVER READ!" I highly, highly recommend this book and hope that you love it as much as we do! Thank you for reading!
Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!

[Ena Kanai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I find water cycles very interesting, and this book explained many things that water. go through in a very simple way. first it becomes a cloud. then it is pushed by the wind. some water particles freezes, forming snow. when too much water particles get together, the cloud releases them as rain. when many clouds gather and warm and cold particles exist, it makes light, causing lightning! when the cloud comes to get the water particles, it forms fog. when the sun shines through the water, it makes a rainbow!
Maybe its just because I like the water cycle, but I think that many children would enjoy this book.

[Ersa S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful mixture of storytelling and non-fiction for beinning readers! I've said this in prevcious reviews, but I love non-fiction books that present facts as a story because it helps the audience remember and recall the information much easier. This happens because it is easier to recall information in a linear way, like in storytelling, verses random memory retirieval, because there isn't anything to tie into the information. This is solely bases on my experience, so please take what I say with a grain of salt.

But I really enjoyed the simple and short sentences and whimsical illustrations.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me smiling from the moment I picked it up. I impatiently skimmed it by myself while my kids biked and then asked to read it with them well before our regular bedtime reading time. Both boys 4 and 2 were engaged with the story and smiling at the funny faces on all the characters. The sentences on each page were the perfect length to keep their attention and know what was happening. I like the authors use of chapters here to introduce the concept to the youngest readers. I loved the artwork and the charismatic, approachable science being taught. Easy five stars for a picture book I loved maybe even more than my kids did.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars This book got many actual LOL from me. I may text LOL a lot but I am not much of a person who laughs often. (It must be my dry sense of humor because I find a lot of things funny just not expressed in chuckles).

I just thought this was so fun, so informative and got me to laugh! I have read many books about the water cycle and this beats them all!

What else has Rob written. I just loved it! Even the back flap author note, is a riot, with Cloud also getting a bio.
Go read it!

[Alissa Tsaparikos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute and informative story about the water cycle, cleverly showing the journey of a cloud and all the things that happen during that cycle. It has very simple text and is set up in short chapters. It feels like a happy medium between a picture book and an easy reader. It is too long for storytime to be read all at once, but taking one chapter or two out of the whole would add well to a storytime that is about the water cycle. This would be an excellent book for a classroom library.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction book about the water cycle that doubles as a pretty engaging story for early readers! The text is simple and in large print, with expressive illustrations showing personified elements from the water cycle (Cloud, Rain, etc). Definitely one I'd recommend to early readers interested in science/the natural world.

Themes: Water Cycle, Water, Weather, Nature, World
Age range: Kindergarten - Early Elementary (preschoolers might even be interested in listening)

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super cute picture book about the water cycle! Rob Hodgson does an excellent job making this scientific process easy to understand with his breezy narrative featuring an adorable cloud and very appealing illustrations. Readers will also learn what causes lightning, thunder, and rainbows! The lighthearted dialog, such as Wind's "It's easy being breezy" and Cloud's "This is snow much fun!" will also surely elicit chuckles from the young audience.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a great explanation of the water cycle for younger readers. The text is simple, the illustrations are fun and even use some speech bubbles! A bonus is the clouds saying hello and goodbye in different languages!
At sixty-two pages, the book is a longer than a picture book but perfect for beginning readers. I just finished A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin. I think these two books are a perfect pair. Little Snow's bed looks just like a big, fluffy cloud.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice companion book to the book Drop by Emily Kate Moon. It also covers the water cycle, but in a different manner. I thought Drop was more informative, but both have merit and both are fun for kids. One complaint about When Cloud Became a Cloud is that the sort of chapter titles give away what is coming. Don’t say “RAINBOW” and then expect me to be surprised when a rainbow forms after the next page turn.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the illustrations in this book! It's a very cute introduction to Earth's water cycle. I read this to my 4-year-old and he had some questions about the science behind some of what was in this book, which made me wish that there was some additional information at the end, or maybe a list of water cycle books to pair with this one. Overall, very enjoyable!

[Tiffany S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to the adorable art style. The fun expressions of the cloud character helped make for a fun but simple way to learn about the water cycle and how clouds play a role in doing so. Each chapter goes through a different cycle and sometimes we learn about things like fog or thunderstorms along the way. It's a lovely early nonfiction item.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC courtesy of Penguin Publishing Group & Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

I rather enjoyed the super simple approach to education in this. What an engaging way to teach young ones about clouds. And super cute illustrations are a fantastic bonus!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, adorable, fun, and educational, but no endnotes or resources. An anthropomorphized and accessible look at the water cycle. The illustrations are ridiculously adorable, and the text is light and readable.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for grade 2-3 science read aloud. So wish it was bigger for reading aloud to whole group. Wonder if it’s an ebook?I am going to use it to review a weather unit with stop motion Google Slides animations.

[Bethany Harnden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright illustrations and funny speech bubbles make reading this book a super fun and easy way to learn about types of clouds, precipitation, and the water cycle. The fantastic art and comical characters will give kids giggles and teach them something new.