Written and illustrated by German-American Eric Carle, Kleine Wolke tells the story of a cloud who veers away from the others and creates his own shapes.
On each page, Little Cloud playfully morphs into a different shape. We see him become a clown, a lamb, and an airplane, among other shapes. There is little text on each page, and the text that is present refers directly to the illustrations. Even if your child is not fluent in German, he/she will likely be able to comprehend the story.
Kleine Wolke demonstrates the virtue of being an individual.
Little Cloud is quite content to play by himself, but he is also happy being a part of the larger group. At the end of the book, Little Cloud joins up with the other clouds to create a rainstorm. Young readers will see the importance not only of being themselves, but also of being part of a larger community.
My 19-month-old son enjoys reading this story.
I only wish we had started reading this book at a warmer time of year. When we’re out traipsing across icy parking lots and snowy sidewalks, I often find my son looking up at the sky naming different clouds he sees. “Little Cloud” is an enjoyable story that certainly stimulates a young child’s imagination!
Age Recommendation: 1-4 years old
Fluency Recommendation: Beginner
Submitted by: Melissa M.
Kleine Wolke: Find it at Alphabet Garten
I am so glad to find your bookstore and blog! I speak some German with my four-month-old son but we need more books to help us both along. Your selection and reviews are fantastic. Thank you for what you do!