Cloudland
on Goodreads (147)
What’s inside...
While hiking in the mountains with his parents, Albert tumbles off a cliff—but is saved by the cloud children who utter magic words that make him very light and keep him from falling. Albert has a wonderful time jumping, swimming, painting, and racing in the sky with the cloud children. That is until he remembers his mother and father and his own little bed at home. It takes the cloud queen, the man in the moon, and a few more magic words to return Albert to earth.
Age
3-7
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Albert
Albert'S Mother
Albert'S Father
Discussion points
How do you think Albert felt when he first arrived in Cloudland?
What would you do if you could create your own cloud shapes?
How did the cloud children help each other throughout the story?
What did Albert learn during his adventures in the sky?
Can you imagine what life might be like living among the clouds?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about Albert’s journey using emotive words.
Prompt your child to draw their own cloud creature and describe its special abilities.
Discuss the importance of friendship and teamwork as shown through the cloud children’s interactions.
Ask your child to think about what they would miss most if they were in Cloudland like Albert.
Reinforce the storytelling by linking the imaginative aspects of Cloudland to real-life clouds and weather.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and kindness
Explanation: In 'Cloudland', Albert interacts with cloud children who help him after he falls from a mountain. Throughout the story, these characters display acts of kindness and empathy towards each other.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to understand and share the feelings of others, fostering kindness in playground interactions or when sharing toys with siblings or friends.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The cloud children and Albert engage in imaginative play in their cloud environment, creating games and fun activities from their surroundings.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to use their imagination in play, helping them to think creatively and find joy in creating their own games with available resources.
Example Lesson: Adaptability and problem-solving
Explanation: Albert adapts to his new and unfamiliar surroundings in the clouds and works with his new friends to find a way back home.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to remain adaptable and solve problems when faced with new and challenging situations, such as moving to a new school or learning how to integrate into different social groups.
Example Lesson: Cooperation
Explanation: Albert and the cloud children collaborate on various adventures, demonstrating the value of working together.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of cooperation, which can be applied in group activities at school, in sports teams, or during group projects, teaching them how to achieve shared goals through teamwork.