LITTLE CLOUD'S BIG DREAM

Events in the life of an anthropomorphic little cloud with grand ambitions.

A bigger cloud tells Re how to grow: Collect dew. So Re does just that as she drifts over lakes, rivers, and puddles. After she clears the drops from Flower’s eyes, the two become “the best of best friends,” and Re somehow manages to stay in one place, close to her new pal. Soon, Re turns heavy and dark, and “a THOUSAND RAINDROPS [FALL] OUT OF HER.” She becomes “a gentle rain,” a raging storm, and then, just as abruptly, a single raindrop that falls on Flower, who has managed to avoid being flattened by the winds and rain. The friends wish each other good night, and the book swiftly ends. The text of this Swiss import is anemic, and the rhymes and rhythm—abandoned during the section devoted to the storm—are weak. The plot contains no tension or conflict to intrigue readers; Re never entertains doubts about whether she’ll realize her goals, nor do she and Flower ever argue. The art is a showstopper, however. Delicately rendered and gently colored illustrations depict a botanist’s delight: leaves and flowers of all shapes and hues amid a busy jungle filled with rainforest fauna, reminiscent of Henri Rousseau’s paintings.

A bland story enlivened by lush visuals.