20 Cloud Books for Preschoolers You Need on Your Bookshelf
Want to dig in even deeper to weather science for early learners? These cloud books are the perfect addition to a shelf full of weather books. Explore the list and find the perfect cloud book for your child or classroom.
Share facts about frozen precipitation with these snow facts for kids. They are the perfect addition to children’s cloud books.
Fiction Cloud Books
Fictional children’s books help readers build imaginative skills. They can connect with characters and develop empathy for the experiences of others. When learning about the weather, fictional cloud books help children make a connection to nature.
When Cloud Became a Cloud
By Rob Hodgson
This charming cloud book introduces readers to the life cycle of a cloud. Along with Cloud, readers will meet characters, including the sun, water droplets, wind, and other stormy clouds. When Cloud Became a Cloud includes little text but plenty of adorable, colorful illustrations.
Cloud Country
By Bonny Becker, illustrated by Noah Clock
The Pixar Animation Studios Artist Showcase created this unique cloud book. The story is pure imagination, and the illustrations are incredible.
Readers are taken into another world filled with sentient clouds. We learn about Gale, a young cloud who is nervous about their cloud formation graduation. Just like the readers, Gale is in for a surprise.
Lizzy and the Cloud
By Terry Fan & Eric Fan
This magical cloud storybook follows Lizzy and her pet cloud. Lizzy gets her cloud into a routine, but soon trouble is brewing. Her pet cloud grows and grows. Lizzy has a problem to solve.
Readers will adore this imaginative story. And the illustrations in this book have an incredible vintage feel. It gives me nostalgia for a children’s book I can’t quite remember. Please comment below if you have the answer!
Love this book? Terry and Eric Fan also illustrated The Scarecrow on the fall book list.
Lola Shapes the Sky
By Wendy Greenley, illustrated by Paolo Domeniconi
Lola disagrees that clouds just make weather. She wants to make shapes! Off Lola goes in a spirited demonstration of how creative clouds can be. Readers learn it’s okay to be different and great to be yourself. It can even inspire others!
I recommend Lola Shapes the Sky for its adaptability to any cloud-based lesson plan. This book is poetic with its dreamy illustrations and lyrical text. But you’ll discover cloud science information included in the book’s last pages.
Cloudette
By Tom Lichtenheld
This quirky little cloud book combines weather science and social-emotional skills. The storyline is multi-dimensional and will have a different meaning depending on each child’s age or interests. Readers will learn how even the smallest beings can make a big difference.
Oh. And keep reading until the end and discover the most adorable frog characters.
Sidney the Lonely Cloud
By Tim Hopgood
Sidney the Lonely Cloud is about a lonesome cloud that does not feel welcome. Sidney travels to find a place they feel they belong. Even though the illustrations are cheerful, readers will be able to identify how Sidney is feeling sad and lonely. The story has a happy ending and introduces environmentalism, weather science, and social-emotional concepts along the way.Â
The Cloud Spinner
By Michael Catchpool, illustrated by Alison Jay
This fantasy follows a magical boy who can weave cloth from clouds. However, his talent is taken advantage of by a king. Follow the whimsical illustrations and find out how the world starts to change.
While reading this story, early learners discover the importance of caring for our planet. They also learn about courage and speaking up for what is right.
It Looked Like Spilt Milk
By Charles G. Shaw
It Looked Like Spilt Milk combines art appreciation and a little bit of mystery. Readers can explore and imagine all the wild, different shapes clouds can become. Each page is a new chance to talk and imagine. Extend learning and let this book inspire a cloud art activity.
Little Cloud
By Eric Carle
Readers meet a little cloud character who drifts away from the other clouds. The little cloud moves and twists into different shapes, like a tree, a shark, and an airplane. Find out what happens when the little cloud joins with other clouds.
Little Cloud and Lady Wind
By Slide Morrison & Toni Morrison, illustrated by Sean Qualls
Little Cloud and Lady Wind was written by beloved author Toni Morrison and her son Slade Morrison.
This book balances fantasy and weather science. The authors tell a story of a little cloud figuring out herself and her place in the world. This cloud book includes social-emotional concepts like self-identity and building relationships with others. Our main character shares, “I can be me and part of something else too.”
In the Clouds
By Elly MacKay
In this cloud children’s book, our main character takes off on a wild adventure to learn about clouds. Readers follow along to learn about cloud science while also testing their own imagination.
The collage illustrations in this book are incredible. They are absolutely dreamy and luminescent. The book ends with an infographic about the different cloud shapes. (It’s actually an easter egg that readers can find somewhere else in the story).
Nonfiction Cloud Books
Every nature bookshelf needs nonfiction children’s books too. Fictional stories can introduce STEM concepts. But nonfiction cloud books include facts and photographs to build children’s knowledge about the weather.
Clouds: A Compare and Contrast Book
By Katharine Hall
This cloud book features beautiful full-page photographs and minimal text. Accompanying each cloud picture is a simple line of text presenting a cloud fact.
Readers can compare and contrast different cloud types and characteristics as they move through the book. The end of the book includes an appendix with more scientific cloud information for learners.
Feel the Fog
By April Pulley Sayre
Foggy, breathtaking photographs are the highlight of this nonfiction cloud book. Learning about fog is powerful because fog is the one cloud that children can interact with. Let this book inspire a sense of wonder and encourage time outdoors.
Check out Sayre’s other nature children’s books on our list of snow books, weather books, and flower books.
Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Meteorologist Joanne Simpson
By Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Helena Perez Garcia
This biographical children’s book highlights Joanne Simpson’s incredible life. Simpson, an expert on clouds, became the first woman to earn a doctorate in meteorology. This book will inspire readers to overcome challenges while teaching about clouds and the weather. I recommend this book for every classroom’s nonfiction bookshelf.
Shapes in the Sky: A Book about Clouds
By Josepha Sherman, illustrated by Omarr Wesley
This cloud book is excellent if you want the basics. Readers receive a fast introduction to cloud types and cloud facts. Explore the book’s cloud FAQs, cloud vocabulary, and cloud activities. Readers will build knowledge about science concepts and be ready to apply that information later.
Next Time You See a Cloud
By Emily Morgan
This nonfiction cloud book is a little text-heavy. Still, it’s a wonderful addition to a lesson plan or classroom theme about clouds. If children are interested in the weather, this can expand their learning.
The diverse collection of cloud photographs makes it an excellent resource for early learners. By explaining cloud concepts in simple terms, this book is also a great resource for educators. It can help parents and teachers share about cloud science to in a developmentally-appropriate way.
Clouds
By Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Frane Lessac
In Clouds, readers can learn about the different types of clouds. This book also highlights the relationship between clouds and our weather. This nonfiction cloud book is entirely illustrated without real photographs. The illustrations do highlight children playing outdoors and even investigating fog with flashlights.
One of my favorite features of this book is that it encourages readers to use the information they learn. Children can go outdoors, observe clouds, and predict the weather based on what they see.
Need more inspiration to play outdoors? Explore our favorite nature play quotes.
Explore My World: Clouds
By Marfe Delano
Explore My World Clouds introduces cloud facts alongside real photographs of clouds.
With simple text and information, The Explore My World books by National Geographic Kids are great for beginners. Fun text, shapes, and colors show early learners familiar concepts alongside nature facts. Readers stay engaged with this nonfiction nature book’s bright, colorful graphics.
Little Cloud: The Science of a Hurricane
By Johanna Wagstaffe, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin
Somehow, the author and illustrator of this book make stormy weather seem so sweet. The book delivers a simple, fun explanation of how a cloud grows into a giant storm.
This book’s fun, colorful illustrations, weather facts, and cloud vocabulary make it a perfect STEM book for early learners.
Tomie Depaola’s The Cloud Book
By Tomie dePaola
This cloud book by a beloved classic children’s author is a must-have. Using humor, the author introduces scientific facts, cloud nicknames, stories, and mythology. The book includes simple illustrations encouraging children to pay more attention to the clouds above them.
I hope you’ve found the perfect cloud book for your home or classroom. Mix and match these cloud books with favorite weather books and outdoor play books to complete a lovely nature bookshelf.
I recommend BookShop.org as an alternative to amazon. Each purchase on BookShop.org supports local and independent bookstores. You can explore my book lists for early learners or search for any books (new and used).
