The House of Clouds; Lisa Thompson, illustrated by Alice McKinley

Lisa Thompson is a wonderful writer of children’s stories and this one will have readers desperately wanting to hug all of their important relatives, particularly story-telling grandparents.

Tabby’s life has changed a lot since grandad moved in to her family home. Her mum has quit her job, railings have appeared around the home, the dining room has been turned into a bedroom and a smelly, scruffy terrier is an unwanted addition to the household.

Tabby has little time for grandad and his ridiculous stories, they are far-fetched, silly and most definitely made-up. But there is something about the most wonderfully impossible of stories that maybe, just maybe, has an ounce of truth to it. The one about the lady who lived in the house on the headland and carved the most amazing things out of clouds…

The House of Clouds is a heart-wrenching and tear-jerking story of loss, grief and of wonderful stories. It is a celebration of imagination and the joy of childhood where the impossible may just be possible. Through an incredibly heart-felt story that tugs at every single one of the heart strings and will leave readers gently weeping, Lisa Thompson implores us all to to spend time with loved ones and to cherish the precious moments. There is also a subtle reminder to step away from the screen and to live life, especially around those people that you love dearly as you never know when they will no longer be around.

For a relatively short read at just under one hundred pages there is a lot going on. The death of a relative, a mystery to solve and a young girl who is experiencing challenging life events. Many readers will relate to Tabby who is struggling to deal with the caring of an elderly relative, changes within the home, friendship issues and coping with different emotions.

Produced by Barrington Stoke, this book is published with dyslexic-friendly font, page tint and spacing making it accessible for all readers. Alice McKinley provides the gentle and warm-hearted illustrations.

Recommended for 8+.