The Cloud Kingdom by Maire Zepf

What worked:

The illustrations are enchanting, artfully depicting the characters, creatures, and scenes. The sketches found inside the cover and on the title pages are rough yet detailed, enough to pique readers’ imaginations. The colorful pictures within the narrative capture the whimsy and imagination of the author’s stories. A mechanical jellyfish, a Graggally, and a dragon ghost are just a few of the creative creatures featured in the book.

The book is broken up into short stories, which is perfect for younger readers. They can feel success by completing each “chapter” and then taking a break before tiring out. The premise is that Nancy is telling these stories to the faeries that stole her cat. Interestingly, each of these stories contains a line from another tale that will be shared in the next chapter. This detail connects all of the separate stories into a cohesive overall plot. 

Each tale finds a character standing up for what’s right, and the good guys always come out on top. A young girl stands up to her entire village to save them from a greedy hat salesman. The townspeople fear a lonely dragon ghost for generations until a girl is brave enough to change the dialogue. An inventor and his daughter undermine a domineering factory owner’s efforts to save a mechanical jellyfish from exploitation. There’s even a chapter that features an appreciation for artists and their creations. The collection of stories will leave readers feeling good about the world.

The final verdict:

This delightful book returns to a world of simple stories with happy endings. The blend of descriptive narratives and colorful, expressive illustrations results in a literary gem for all readers. I highly recommend you add this book to your reading list!