The Cloud Princess

PreS-Gr 1--The Cloud Princess lives alone in the sky, with only Miss Sun and Miss Moon for company. When she learns about life down on Earth, she is intrigued and wishes to see things with her own eyes. Traveling down to the surface, the Cloud Princess visits flowers, butterflies, and bees up close. She is enthralled by the beauty around her, until she suddenly starts to feel herself melting into water droplets. To avoid turning into rain, the Cloud Princess retreats quickly back up to the safety of the sky. Although she cannot live down on the ground, she descends every now and then to take a peek, bringing with her the spring rain. Le's illustrations are absolutely stunning, filled with vibrant colors and movement as the Cloud Princess explores. The title character is ethereal yet relatable. Her cloud-hair is delightfully voluminous; her face expresses her initial loneliness and then her curiosity and wonder. The plot has the gentle simplicity characteristic of folktales. The book provides an excellent springboard for discussion about storytelling and how cultures through the ages have used stories to explain their observations of the natural world. This volume will be quickly snatched up; the gorgeous cover illustration is made of special "3-D" plastic. VERDICT The vivid, brilliant illustrations bring this simple pourquoi tale to life in a highly engaging way. A solid read-aloud for small groups and individuals.--Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL