Cloudette

Written by Tom Lichtenheld

Narrated by Wendy Carter

Sometimes being small has its advantages. When Cloudette wants to do something big, she discovers that a little cloud can make a big difference.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Weston Woods
• Release date: Jan 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9780545786096

Tom Lichtenheld

Tom Lichtenheld makes books for children and people who used to be children. His New York Times bestsellers include I Wish You More and Duck! Rabbit!, created with Amy Krouse Rosenthal; Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, created with Sherri Duskey Rinker; and Stick and Stone, created with Beth Ferry. See all his books at tomlichtenheld.com.

Reviews for Cloudette

[Elizabeth Nelson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nice book! It’s really good, cute little cloud as well!

[melodyreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

cute!!!!Being little.

[yyoon4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In my opinion, this is a good book that is full of positivity and determination. The main idea of this book is that no matter how small you are, if you are determined, you can make a big difference. The author is creative for displaying this message through his choice of characters. The main character is a small cloud named Cloudette who is a “very small cloud” that is comfortable with her average life, but soon aspires to do “important cloud things” like the other big clouds do. The character development is paced very well as Cloudette finds herself in a new setting and tries her best to become a rain cloud for a few frogs who need a pond. From there, Cloudette became confident of her abilities. She developed into an individual that believed she could do great things. The cloud went from saying, “No, thanks. I'll just watch form here” to “I'll bet there are other big and important things a little cloud can do. And off she went.” The illlustrations also enhance the story by showing what the text is saying in a fun way. One page said, “But nobody seemed to need her,” and the picture was a picture of a car wash saying, “Sorry, it's all done by machines.” The illustrations were not messy but simple and clear, making it easy for readers to not be distracted by the art. The art and the words come together nicely.

[librarymediaman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cloudette loves attention from the "higher-up" clouds, but she doesn't know how to do the big and important things they do. After some failed attempts to find a big, important task, a storm blows her into unfamiliar territory where here help is most needed! But she will have to do something she has never tried to do before. This book is fantastic for teaching about clouds and how they are quite necessary to have rain, snow, rivers, waterfalls, and even food. At the end, Cloudette goes off to find other big and important things to do. I ask students what important things they can do - and I'm sure to ask them if its something they are already doing. If it is, I ask them to thing of something they've never done before, but they could learn how to do.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cloudette was a cumulus cloud who usually enjoyed being just as she was: diminutive and cute. With plenty of pet names, lots of friends her own size, and the ability to fit into spaces where the larger clouds couldn't follow, there were distinct advantages to being small. But when the big clouds head out to do big, important things, from watering the crops to make the rivers flow, she found that she too wanted to do something that would make a difference...A sweet story, one which taps into that common childhood desire to do what the "big people" are doing, and to make a mark on the world, Cloudette is the first picture-book I have read that is both written and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, although I did enjoy Chris Barton's Shark vs. Train, which he illustrated. I appreciated many of the humorous little details here, both visual and textual - Cloudette's attempts to say hello to smoke puffs, in one scene, mistaking them for fellow clouds; the cleverly worded praise heaped on Cloudette, after her big deed - and think young readers will find her story quite engaging as well.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The little cloud that could.

[andy_170279 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cloudette tells the story of a small cloud that dreams of helping others, problem is she is too small to work at the fire station or other places. One day she finds herself in another place away from home where finally she has the opportunity to do something for significant for others.

[alyson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In the spirit of The Little Engine That Could but with a cute cloud!

[debnance_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cloudette is a little itty-bitty cloud. Generally, Cloudette saw the advantages of being small, like everyone calling her cute names and always being able to find a good spot to watch fireworks.But she wanted to do something important, something important like the big clouds got to do.One day, Cloudette got her chance.This little book about the power of a little cloud to make a little part of the world better made me very happy to read.“This gave Cloudette an idea…She held her breath until she started to puff up all over.Then she turned a nice blue-gray color.She kept growing until it looked like she was ready to burst.She shook her behind until it made a little rumbling sound---not quite what you’d call thunder, but enough to let people know they might want to grab an umbrella.Then she did what she’d wanted to do for ages.She let it pour.”

[restock_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very cute tale of a cloud searching to be something great and wonderdul. Eventually lends itself to a rain storm. Very cute story for the young child about the worth of something little like a cloud. 

[pridel_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a delightful picture book, as much fun for adults as it is for kids.

[sarahccl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightful, Lovely story, gorgeous expressive illustrations.