5 stars!!

Ugh this children's book was so beautiful! I loved the depiction of sadness and depression. Such a beautiful way to help children understand their own emotions and understand that it's okay to feel and talk about. How the friends showed up during this time is so precious, even just to be present. I would definitely recommend this one, the art is stunning as well!

A must-have for anyone looking to boost their social-emotional offerings. Bear feels like there is a rain cloud over their head. This visual is a great way to talk about emotions with little ones. In the end, the readers gets to see the cloud turn into a rainbow. Thoughtful and informative (without being too didactic). This gorgeously illustrated book is a definite buy for librarians and teachers.

Book 043 of 365 ~ 2026

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book gave me all the feels. And a reminder, always be kind. You never know who is going through something and needs someone to be there.

I received a complimentary copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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A pretty book about moments we all have! Love a book that breaks down big, heavy emotions in a way a child can access and learn from. evocative of Grumpy Monkey.

Our poor friend Bear is having a tough day, the storm cloud hanging over his head just won't go away. This beautiful picture book shows children that it's normal to have sad days and gives adults the opportunity to talk about sadness and having a special person who will always be there for them. Perfect for kids ages 3-6.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One beautiful spring morning, Bear wakes up and, despite the lovely day, feels blue. Before long, he discovers a dark, gray storm cloud hovering above his head. He tries everything he can to get rid of the cloud, but it persists, and when his friends invite him for a picnic, he fears that his cloud will ruin their day as well and turns them down. Determined to help, they try and cheer him up, but to no avail--and to make matters worse, Bear's cloud only grows bigger. Finally, Squirrel convinces Bear to let him in, and together they discover the power of friendship, empathy, and compassion.

This sweet story gently addresses feelings of sadness, loneliness, and depression, and the impact they can have; it also tenderly offers the hope of a listening ear, an affirming friend, and passing storm clouds. The metaphor of the cloud works beautifully, and Stickley's text may give young readers the language they need to articulate and navigate feelings like Bear's or to support a friend as Squirrel does. Hamilton's mixed media illustrations are an absolute delight. They pair beautifully with the text, contribute to an overall cozy, comforting tone, and give observant readers much to pore over as well.

This was an absolutely beautiful book about feeling "down," and the ways that friends can use empathy to support someone who is struggling. As someone who has struggled with clinical depression for almost a decade, this was an accurate representation of what it can feel like, and what can and can't help. The illustrations are gorgeous and colorful- I love the watercolor style. This might be in my top 10 favorite picture books of all time, Can't wait to share this story with kids!

A beautifully gentle picture book that handles big feelings with heart and warmth. It follows Bear, who wakes up one day with a storm cloud hanging over him, making everything feel heavy and sad even the things that usually make him happy. With the help of his friends, he begins to understand that it’s okay to feel sad sometimes and that those feelings don’t last forever.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Storm Cloud is a tender and deeply moving picture book that tackles the heavy topic of sadness with incredible grace. Author Frances Stickley follows Bear, who wakes up to a literal storm cloud following him on a sunny day, making the things he once loved feel out of reach.

Why it’s a 5-Star standout:
Emotional Intelligence: It provides a perfect entry point for preschoolers (ages 3–5) to discuss complex feelings like "sitting with sadness" and the importance of open communication.

Stunning Visuals: Emily Hamilton’s watercolor and ink illustrations are a "glowing delight," using bright primary colors and neon splashes to contrast Bear’s cloudy internal state with the hopeful world around him.

Message of Hope: The core theme—that the brightest rainbows follow the storm—is life-affirming without being dismissive of the struggle.

This is great book to help explain anxiety or feelings of sadness to children. Bear's friends show compassion and are very kind and caring toward him when the storm cloud is following him. It is a hopeful story as well, that can help show children that the storm will eventually pass. Beautiful illustrations.

Such a wonderfully crafted story! I don’t know how she did it, but Stickley explained deep sadness to small children. We don’t know why bear is sad or if something caused the sadness, we just know his storm cloud doesn’t go away instantly. I actually like that the things the friends do to try to cheer him up, didn’t help. Sometimes sadness doesn’t go away just because someone tried to cheer you up. I absolutely love that squirrel is with him in the storm- just sits with him and gives him things to help until the storm passes (an umbrella). The watercolor illustrations are stunning. Loved this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC. The following review will be posted on Storygraph when the book becomes available on that platform.

‘The Storm Cloud’ by Frances Stickley is a touching and gentle story that addresses days when we may feel “off” or “blue”. The story shows how friends can show up for each other in thoughtful ways and highlights the importance of being able to listen to our friends that are having a bad or sad day.

Emily Hamilton’s illustrations are bright, soft, colourful and full of texture in a way that compliments the story so beautifully. I love the details inside of bear’s home and the adorable mouse and birds in the background. Each page was a joy to sit and take in.

There was one minor moment that caused me a bit of pause:
“I’m not really in the mood to chat or talk about the weather,” Bear said.
“I don’t mind,” said Squirrel.

Bear is essentially refusing to accept company and Squirrel is replying with “I don’t mind.” This could be changed with Squirrel saying “That’s okay, we don’t have to play. Let’s just work this out together.” Or something to this effect.

Aside from this, I really enjoyed the writing. Squirrel admitting that she cannot see the cloud, but tells Bear that she believes him that it is there was so impactful and so important! As many other reviewers hav said, this is a great conversation starter for young ones.

The Storm Cloud is the first book that I found that accurately depicts what it can feel like to have a sad day. It prompted a great conversation between my son and I and ways to combat that terrible feeling. We absolutely loved the illustrations as they brought a lightness to the heavy subject matter while still allowing them to be powerful. I can't recommend this book enough for preschool/early elementary school kiddos as a way to start a conversation about when you or a friend is having a "down" day.

The Storm Cloud is a book about dealing with emotions and could be a great resource in helping kids deal with their feelings and learning to be open about the things they're feeling. The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful and that is what drew me to the book initially. I was very impressed with the story as well. This is a must buy for our picture book collection.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-copy of Athena Storm Cloud by Frances Stickley in exchange for a honest review.This is a great book for preschoolers and early elementary students dealing with being”blue” .Bear is sad and his cloud follows him everywhere. but with the help of his kind and thoughtful friends he is able to deal with his emotions and overcome his feelings of sadness.Very valuable book for this day and age.

The illustrations were beautiful. I loved the story. The friendships were really sweet and a great example for kiddos. It was a heartwarming book.

Everyone needs a loved one like squirrel. This is one of those books you save in your parenting/teacher toolbox to age-appropriately teach about depression. The illustrations are colorful and cozy.

Thank you NetGalley for the early read!! I loved the artwork of this picture book and the story behind the entire book. I think it’s a good lesson for younger children but can be adapted and used for older kids to understand complex emotions. I would use it for my own children or middle school classroom.

Thank you #NetGalley for the early #TheStormCloud by Frances Stickley

Such a cute story for all kids. It lets you know that whatever storm you may be going thru be brave enough to let your friends know what is going on and they will help you through it.

Very appealing and gentle illustration style, and a deeply reassuring message about the courage it takes to talk about hard feelings. The visual warmth of the art and the care in the small domestic details mirrors the emotional safety at the heart of the story. This is the kind of children’s book that speaks just as clearly to adults: tender, empathetic, and quietly wise, offering comfort without ever talking down to the reader. I will be purchasing for our library.

The Storm Cloud is a delightful story that follows Bear and his sadness. Bear has a storm cloud following him. He doesn't want the storm cloud to ruin things so he stays home instead of playing with his friends. His friends try to cheer him up, but nothing seems to work. Finally Squirrel visits Bear to offer support and a lending ear. Squirrel helps Bear realize that his storm cloud doesn't have to ruin his day. After talking and playing with Squirrel, Bear's storm cloud disappears and becomes a rainbow.

This book is a fantastic story to read aloud during SEL time in a classroom. It models compassion and empathy. The illustrations are colorful and beautiful. Each animal is darling as well. I highly recommend The Storm Cloud.

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight, for this ARC.

What a wonderful story about a bear with a storm cloud and his friends who stay with him until it moves away even though he thought that it would ruin their good mood but squirrel showed him that friends stick together even if the only thing they can do is sticking around.
The book is beautifully illustrated with so many tiny details and the story gives a great metaphor for everything that feels like a storm cloud (anxiety, depression, etc.) and gives children a chance to articulate their bad feelings, seek help and it also gives hope that even though it might feel like it would stay forever, the rain will stop and friends and family can help until then.

What a great story. An easy and beautiful way to show compassion and friendship through dark times. It was easy to understand, relatable for kids, and the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait to read this to my class. It sends a very important message that it’s ok to feel sad or mad and that friends and talking about things can make it better. Loved!!!

OMG this book made me cry 😭 It’s so beautiful and the illustrations are lovely! It shows the power of companionship, the power of friendship and love!

Thanks to Publisher Spotlight and NetGalley for this eARC of The Storm Cloud, to be published on March 11, 2026.