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Tabitha and the Raincloud
When Tabitha wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, she finds a big raincloud next to her taking up most of the space. Immediately, she knows it’s going to be one of those yucky days when nothing seems to go right. But what if she doesn’t have to let a raincloud spoil her day?All morning, Tabitha tells the raincloud to go away, but it won’t budge. At breakfast, the cloud rains all over her scrambled eggs. At school, she tries to draw a giraffe, but the raincloud distracts her and her art teacher compliments her on her dinosaur! Aaagh! By lunchtime, Tabitha is so stormy that none of her friends want to sit next to her.With the raincloud refusing to leave, Tabitha suddenly realises that she needs to change her attitude. It’s not the raincloud that’s making her day unpleasant, but how she’s choosing to react to it. So, Tabitha fetches her umbrella, raincoat and boots from her locker and starts dancing in the rain. It’s not long before her friends join her and they’re all having fun together!This is a story of resilience, choices, optimism and perseverance. It’s a gentle reminder that we all have stormy days, but we’ll get through them if we remember to keep looking on the bright side. And sometimes, we can bring the sunshine out a little bit faster if we dance in the rain!
- GenresPicture Books
24 pages, Hardcover
Published March 10, 2020
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2020
Tabitha wakes up in a bad mood.
Tabitha and the Raincloud is a beautifully presented children’s story. The quality of the book is impressive. It has a strong and robust cover that will survive many readings and much handling. The illustrations are engaging and appropriate with a calming and muted palette that suits the story perfectly. They also have a charm and simple style that children can easily relate to. Indeed, I can envisage children emulating the artwork and attempting the painting of a giraffe like Tabitha’s at the end of the story so that if Tabitha and the Raincloud were used in a school setting it could link with art or nature projects too.
The language in the story is accessible so that stronger independent readers could enjoy the story alone, but I think that Tabitha and the Raincloud would work best when read with a child by a parent, or with a class by a teacher, because it because it affords all manner of opportunities for discussion and exploration of emotional intelligence. There’s the consideration of other people’s feelings when Tabitha rejects her breakfast or when her behaviour leaves her isolated from her friends. There’s the way in which negative experiences can be turned into positive ones. There’s the concept of sharing with others. More subtle aspects such as exercise and action to ward off poor moods and unhappiness are also implied so that there really is a great deal to find and consider at the same time as entertaining children.
Tabitha and the Raincloud would make a super addition to any child’s reading. It really does show that every cloud has a silver lining!
Tabitha and the Raincloud is a beautifully presented children’s story. The quality of the book is impressive. It has a strong and robust cover that will survive many readings and much handling. The illustrations are engaging and appropriate with a calming and muted palette that suits the story perfectly. They also have a charm and simple style that children can easily relate to. Indeed, I can envisage children emulating the artwork and attempting the painting of a giraffe like Tabitha’s at the end of the story so that if Tabitha and the Raincloud were used in a school setting it could link with art or nature projects too.
The language in the story is accessible so that stronger independent readers could enjoy the story alone, but I think that Tabitha and the Raincloud would work best when read with a child by a parent, or with a class by a teacher, because it because it affords all manner of opportunities for discussion and exploration of emotional intelligence. There’s the consideration of other people’s feelings when Tabitha rejects her breakfast or when her behaviour leaves her isolated from her friends. There’s the way in which negative experiences can be turned into positive ones. There’s the concept of sharing with others. More subtle aspects such as exercise and action to ward off poor moods and unhappiness are also implied so that there really is a great deal to find and consider at the same time as entertaining children.
Tabitha and the Raincloud would make a super addition to any child’s reading. It really does show that every cloud has a silver lining!
March 21, 2020
This picture book presents an imaginative take on those bad days we all have, when nothing seems to go right.
Tabitha wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, only to discover a raincloud hovering over her. Things go from bad to worse as the raincloud drizzles on her scrambled eggs and messes up her art project. By lunch time, even Tabitha’s best friend doesn’t want to sit by her. “You’re just a bit too stormy today.” But when Tabitha finds a way to make the best of her circumstances, her friends join in, and the sun comes out again.
This is a sweet metaphorical story about a choice we all make daily: to let crummy circumstances spoil our mood or to make the best of it and stay positive. I think it’s a great conversation starter for parents, teachers, or therapists to talk to children about bad moods and perseverance in the face of obstacles. Plus it’s kid approved – my four year old especially loves this one and keeps requesting it over and over.
Possibly my favorite part about this book was the illustrations. They’re lovely and almost reminded me of an applique quilt. So I asked the publisher about the medium. It turns out that it’s “sustainable collage art.” The illustrator uses “recycled teabags, serviettes, gift wrapping and paper coffee cups” to create collages, finished off with mixed media. How cool is that?
I definitely recommend checking this one out.
*I was gifted a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Tabitha wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, only to discover a raincloud hovering over her. Things go from bad to worse as the raincloud drizzles on her scrambled eggs and messes up her art project. By lunch time, even Tabitha’s best friend doesn’t want to sit by her. “You’re just a bit too stormy today.” But when Tabitha finds a way to make the best of her circumstances, her friends join in, and the sun comes out again.
This is a sweet metaphorical story about a choice we all make daily: to let crummy circumstances spoil our mood or to make the best of it and stay positive. I think it’s a great conversation starter for parents, teachers, or therapists to talk to children about bad moods and perseverance in the face of obstacles. Plus it’s kid approved – my four year old especially loves this one and keeps requesting it over and over.
Possibly my favorite part about this book was the illustrations. They’re lovely and almost reminded me of an applique quilt. So I asked the publisher about the medium. It turns out that it’s “sustainable collage art.” The illustrator uses “recycled teabags, serviettes, gift wrapping and paper coffee cups” to create collages, finished off with mixed media. How cool is that?
I definitely recommend checking this one out.
*I was gifted a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 20, 2020
When Tabitha wakes up one morning she has an unwelcome visitor. A rain cloud hovers nearby, completely ignoring
her stern dismissals. In fact, it seems determined to stick around, and then rains on her breakfast. It follows her to school, spoiling her art lesson, her library and lunch times.
Nobody wants to sit with a dark moody Tabitha. But wait a minute! There is something good about rainclouds!
Pulling on her boots, Tabitha gathers up that raincloud. She jumps and stomps and splishes and sploshes. With the help of her classmates her dark mood lifts just like a raincloud.
Have you ever 'Got out of the wrong side of the bed?' It seems as soon as you wake, a black mood descends?
Tabitha wakes to a black cloud / dark mood hanging over her, all through breakfast and her morning at school - until she sees a positive side. This story is a great way to introduce a discussion on dark feelings and how sometimes they seem to come from nowhere, even waking up with them!
Optimism, Resilience, and Positivity are valuable skills to learn, no matter how old you are.
her stern dismissals. In fact, it seems determined to stick around, and then rains on her breakfast. It follows her to school, spoiling her art lesson, her library and lunch times.
Nobody wants to sit with a dark moody Tabitha. But wait a minute! There is something good about rainclouds!
Pulling on her boots, Tabitha gathers up that raincloud. She jumps and stomps and splishes and sploshes. With the help of her classmates her dark mood lifts just like a raincloud.
Have you ever 'Got out of the wrong side of the bed?' It seems as soon as you wake, a black mood descends?
Tabitha wakes to a black cloud / dark mood hanging over her, all through breakfast and her morning at school - until she sees a positive side. This story is a great way to introduce a discussion on dark feelings and how sometimes they seem to come from nowhere, even waking up with them!
Optimism, Resilience, and Positivity are valuable skills to learn, no matter how old you are.
January 31, 2024
Tabitha wakes up on the wrong side of the bed ... and under a raincloud. No doubt a place we’ve all found ourselves in! Nothing goes right in Tabitha’s day no matter how hard she tries to improve things. Gathering her courage and her sense of fun, resourceful Tabitha determines to chase off her oppressive raincloud … and draw those back into her life those who the raincloud chased away.
This book carries a gentle yet important message about coping strategies to support children’s mental health and to promote the power of positive thinking. The collage style illustrations are presented in muted tones to emphasise the mood of Tabitha’s emotions are very appealing to young readers. Publisher, EK Books, has a wide selection of titles for young children that focus on diverse learners and important childhood issues. Visit their website for further information and resources: www.ekbooks.org.
Themes: sadness, mood swings, anxiety, coping strategies, mental health, positive thinking, perseverance.
This book carries a gentle yet important message about coping strategies to support children’s mental health and to promote the power of positive thinking. The collage style illustrations are presented in muted tones to emphasise the mood of Tabitha’s emotions are very appealing to young readers. Publisher, EK Books, has a wide selection of titles for young children that focus on diverse learners and important childhood issues. Visit their website for further information and resources: www.ekbooks.org.
Themes: sadness, mood swings, anxiety, coping strategies, mental health, positive thinking, perseverance.
March 4, 2020
Everyone has bad days, and, as adults, we often forget that kids have them too. Often there is no reason for it, we just get up on the wrong side of the bed… or wake up next to a raincloud.
Tabitha and the Raincloud is a lovely story about what can happen when you get out of bed on the wrong side. The raincloud can affect everyone around you, until you decide to do something about it.
Similar to the idea of ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade’, this book has a fantastic message for children and adults alike. When you wake up with a raincloud, have fun and splash in the puddles.
A great book to remind you how to turn a bad day into a good day.
Tabitha and the Raincloud is a lovely story about what can happen when you get out of bed on the wrong side. The raincloud can affect everyone around you, until you decide to do something about it.
Similar to the idea of ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade’, this book has a fantastic message for children and adults alike. When you wake up with a raincloud, have fun and splash in the puddles.
A great book to remind you how to turn a bad day into a good day.
April 3, 2022
An interesting story about anger management and dealing with dark days. Illustrator, Melissa Johns does a magnificent job at portraying Tabitha's stormy disposition and attempts to weather her bad mood with the use of appropriately hued and patterned collages. A strong recommendation for the age group 4 - 8 known for it's propensity for not copying with bad days and strong emotions.
May 22, 2024
I think everyone (adults included) can empathise with Tabitha waking up in a bad mood. We've all been there and it really is about trying to turn it around to a better day, but that is also much easier said than done. Such is the case with Tabitha, who wakes up with this dark raincloud over her head and everything is bad - the soggy breakfast, the giraffe mistaken as a dinosaur in art class, the tripping over her own feet and missing out on her favourite book. Yep, poor Tabitha is having a grumpy day. The story culminates with Tabitha getting the toy she wanted but being all alone to play with it and she knows that isn't what she wanted.
Instead of the raincloud being a horrible thing, she now makes a choice to look at it positively. She remembers how much fun it is to play in the rain, to jump in puddles. This makes her feel happier and happier and slowly the other children come to play with her too. The raincloud disappears.
Instead of the raincloud being a horrible thing, she now makes a choice to look at it positively. She remembers how much fun it is to play in the rain, to jump in puddles. This makes her feel happier and happier and slowly the other children come to play with her too. The raincloud disappears.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews