Lila and the Cloud That Followed Her Around

Lila and the Cloud That Followed Her Around

Every feeling has a shape, and for Lila, it looks a lot like a cloud. When a tiny puff of fluff appears in her bedroom one morning, Lila discovers a gentle friend who shifts and changes with her emotions. Together, they explore big feelings, small moments, and the beautiful colors in between. As Lila laughs, worries, and feels overwhelmed, her cloud reflects each mood. With the help of her new friend, she learns to name her feelings, listen to them, and watch them slowly soften and glow again. Lila and the Cloud That Followed Her Around is a warm, comforting picture book that gives young readers a simple way to understand and talk about emotions. Children will learn about: • Understanding and naming feelings • How emotions can change throughout the day • Finding comfort in both quiet and busy moments • Knowing that feelings are normal and safe to share • Building emotional confidence and resilience With soothing watercolor art and a gentle, magical story, this book is perfect for bedtime, classroom read aloud time, and any moment when a child needs a little emotional support. Ideal for children ages 4 to 8. I wrote this book after noticing how often children experience big emotions without having the words to explain them. Feelings like sadness, worry, or being overwhelmed can show up suddenly, and for young kids, they can feel confusing or even frightening. I wanted to create a story that treated those emotions gently rather than trying to rush them away. The idea of the cloud came from watching how feelings tend to follow children through their day. Sometimes they linger. Sometimes they change shape. Sometimes they drift away on their own. I liked the idea of turning emotions into something visible and friendly, something a child could recognize without feeling judged or broken. While writing this book, I focused on creating a calm emotional space. I wanted the story to feel reassuring, not instructional. My goal was not to tell children how they should feel, but to show them that whatever they are feeling is allowed, understandable, and temporary. This book fits alongside my other children's stories, which all explore emotional awareness and self understanding in age appropriate ways. I believe children benefit most when stories meet them where they are, using warmth, simplicity, and imagination rather than lessons or lectures. My hope is that this book becomes part of a quiet moment, a bedtime routine, or a conversation that helps a child feel less alone with their feelings. If it helps even one child feel understood, then it has done what I hoped it would do. Thank you for reading. Every feeling has a shape. And for Lila, it looks a lot like a cloud. When a gray puff of feelings drifts through her days, Lila discovers a gentle friend who shifts and changes with her emotions. Together, they explore big feelings, small moments, and the beautiful colors in between. This heartwarming picture book helps children understand their emotions in a safe and comforting way. It gently encourages emotional awareness, self expression, and learning to listen to the heart. Children will learn about: * Understanding and naming feelings * How emotions can change throughout the day * That big feelings are normal and safe to talk about * Building emotional confidence and resilience With soft illustrations and reassuring language, Lila and the Cloud That Followed Her Around is perfect for young readers ages 3 to 7. Jonathan Hempstead writes gentle, emotionally thoughtful books for children that help young readers understand their feelings and feel safe expressing them. His stories focus on emotional awareness, kindness, and the quiet moments that help children feel seen and understood. Through simple language and comforting imagery, Hempstead aims to create books that support meaningful conversations between children and the adults who care for them.