Dark Cloud

March 15, 2023
A poetic description of childhood depression. Abigail wakes to find herself pursued by, among other objects, a dark rain cloud, a tumbleweed-shaped "ball of worries," "a swirl of fog," and a beautiful but hunger-stealing shadow. While her classmates also seem to see these signs of Abigail's distress, none of them are willing or able to help her. Her father uses a comb to help Abigail smooth out her "tangled thoughts" and gives her a bright yellow polka-dot bow--the first splash of bright color in the muted illustrations. Later, when Abigail sits on a bench to tame the butterflies in her stomach, a classmate joins her. The two sit together in silent understanding. These moments make Abigail feel less alone, and while her dark cloud never actually leaves, she learns to accept it. The author's precise, clear language and sharply perceptive imagery bring to life a child's experience with depression. The slow incorporation of color and patterns into an otherwise dark palette conveys Abigail's inner journey. The book's pictures and words intertwine into an empathetic and quietly profound portrait of a child's emotional struggles. Abigail has skin the white of the page, her parents have grayish-toned skin, while her friend is brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Moving and insightful. (Picture book. 3-6)

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July 14, 2023

PreS-Gr 2-Small acts of kindness penetrate a little girl's dark cloud of depression and anxiety. Abigail is accompanied by a dark cloud wherever she goes. She doesn't know where it came from; it just appeared one day. The ball of worries follows her to school. The swirl of fog keeps her from dancing ballet. The long shadow takes away her appetite. A yellow bow from her father, sitting next to a friend on a bench, reading a book, or playing at the beach shrinks the darkness down in size. The cloud still follows her, but Abigail learns to accept it (and herself). There are even days where she's able to step outside of it. This thoughtful exploration of depression and anxiety puts to words the emotions that children may be experiencing but just can't express yet. The text never talks down to its audience, and in spare language, gives adults tools to address these emotions with kids. Neville-Lee's palette is a muted gray, black, and white when Abigail's dark cloud looms large. However, the mixed-media illustrations brighten when she starts to see glimpses of happiness, beginning with the pop of yellow in her bow, then the light blue of the library book, and the pistachio green of her ice cream at the beach. Once she embraces the dark cloud as part of her identity, it starts to shrink, and the pages explode with gardens full of colors and butterflies. VERDICT Perfect for SEL shelves and curriculum, this sensitive picture book is highly recommended for caregivers and educators working with young children.-Shelley M. Diaz

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