The Cloud Lasso

Gr 2-4–Heavy emotions like grief can be difficult for anyone to navigate, but they can be especially hard for children. A young girl named Delilah mourns the loss of her grandfather, Doo-Dad; even the weather has clouded over and mirrored her sadness. Before, Doo-Dad would spend cloudy days teaching Delilah something new. But now, everything is different. Suddenly, a blue jay lands on her head, Doo-Dad’s lasso clutched in its beak. Delilah takes the lasso and tries to use it; instead of roping something on the ground, however, she ropes the clouds. Emotion-laden illustrations fill the pages of this book, beginning in somber tones and graduating to brighter hues as the child’s mood shifts. As she ropes her clouds, each one becomes a representation of something that makes Delilah sad or angry. Bringing them to the ground allows her to stomp each cloud into oblivion while simultaneously allowing sunshine to appear in a blue sky. This story is a compelling read for children who have suffered the loss of a significant relative, especially a grandparent. Delilah’s visualization of the things that upset her can be a helpful tool to aid children in working through their difficult emotions in a constructive and useful way.