The Cloud Spinner

Amazon Best Books of the Month for Kids, March 2012: Fine clothes spun from white, gold, and crimson clouds are as beautiful as you might imagine thanks to illustrator Alison Jay. There is a bit of The Lorax feel to Michael Catchpool’s elegant text, and the young spinner reminds me a bit of the boy who called out the king in The Emperor's New Clothes. Jay’s signature style adds a treasure trove of details to the pages of The Cloud Spinner, yielding new discoveries with every read (and there will be many). Adults are likely to appreciate the conservation theme, while kids are sure to notice it’s the wisdom of children that ultimately gives rise to change. --Seira Wilson