Cloud Babies by Eoin Colfer & illustrated by Chris Judge [Review & Giveaway USA/CANADA]

My thoughts:  This is an interesting and sweet children's book. My husband was really good at seeing animals in the clouds but not I. In Cloud Babies: Sometimes All We Need to Do Is Look Up a very young child an her father see animals - or rather Cloud Babies - when they are outside strolling along and looking up. This continues as the child grows.

One day the child becomes sick, sicker than ever before and has to go stay for an extended period in the hospital. While there, she and the other children learn to look up and see cloud babies.

Once she is well and leaves the hospital, she goes to school and makes new friends. These friends don't see or appreciate the experience of visualizing cloud babies. She becomes disgruntled, angry, sad, at a loss. The story continues to its joyful conclusion where her hospital friends and her school friends meet at the hospital, share books, and continue experiencing the joy of cloud babies.

A nice story that shares the different worlds of a children's hospital and the child's regular school.

About the book: Six-year-old Erin’s favorite game is spotting animals in the clouds with her mom and dad—everything from fluffy foxes and polar bears to little rabbits. Even when Erin falls very ill and has to spend a long time in the hospital, she still manages to find joy in  spying “cloud babies” through the window with her new hospital friends. When the doctor tells Erin she can go home, she is so excited! But being back at school is not at all what she expected—so much has changed, and Erin must reconcile the safe realm she’s just left with a world outside that has become unfamiliar. With Mom and Dad’s love and wisdom, however, and with the help of her teacher and friends, Erin comes to see that by sharing her experience she can find happiness again in just being herself. Sensitively told and vibrantly brought to life, Cloud Babies brings recognition and comfort to children facing illness or hardship, as well as guidance to those who wish to offer support but may not know where to start.

Eoin Colfer, New York Times best-selling author of the Artemis Fowl series, pens a warm, empathy-building story based on illustrator Chris Judge’s family’s experience with childhood illness.

~ GIVEAWAY ~

Begins March 16

Ends April 12 @ 12:1 a.m. EDT

Open to USA & CANADA

NO P.O. BOXES

Canadian winners must provide phone number

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DISCLOSURE:  I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. Winner's prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by publisher or publicist.