ONCE UPON A CLOUD

Celeste ponders the perfect gift for her mother all day until bedtime, when “the Wind bl[ows] in and carrie[s] her away.”

The Wind takes her first to the Stars, who are “eagerly awaiting her arrival.” The Stars are portrayed as wispy star clusters that form young women in full skirts floating in the sky. They bedeck her with sparkly shoes, necklace, and crown. Next she meets the Moon, a glowing, white-bearded old man who has “many stories to tell her.” Soon the sky brightens from cool purples into glowing oranges to reveal the Sun. Celeste is warmed by the cup of tea she sips with the queenly Sun. As the Wind returns to take her home, she ponders her encounters and what the various beings have shared with her. Just before the Wind delivers her to her home, Celeste spots the perfect gift for her mother—a field of flowers that sparkle and glow, sure “to warm her mother’s heart.” Debut author Keane has worked for Disney, and her illustrations show the influence. Her choice to use dry pastels softens the dreamy scenes, which pair well with the story of a young girl on a quest. It feels rather like a polished storyboard, and Celeste’s pink cheeks and cupid’s-bow lips have a commercial appeal that completes the ready-for-animation look.

Guaranteed to appeal to fans of Frozen and other princess tales.