Head in the Clouds

Gr 2-5–Sofia is an inquisitive young girl whose teacher says has her head in the clouds. The very serious teacher is weary of Sofia’s constant questions including, “Can you measure a cloud?” Sofia has imaginary birds that color her world, and she offers one of these birds to her teacher, hoping it might encourage her to take things less seriously. The text of the story is in handwritten style, with some cursive and some print, which may be difficult for young children to read independently. The artwork contains collages of graph paper, worksheets, newsprint, graphite, and paint. While some of the artwork is creative and pleasant, such as the teacher’s world exploding into color, much of the artwork may be odd to a U.S. audience, with indecipherable writing and very abstract pictures. Perhaps some of the unclear illustrations weren’t translated fully. While the author/illustrator may be hoping to reach children who see the world differently, many young readers may be left confused. Adults wishing to reach children with the story may approach it one-on-one to open fruitful conversations.