Today I’m floating on cloud nine as I’ve a guest post over at one of the very best blogs I know – The Crafty Crow. I’m reviewing an incredibly beautiful French picture book (in English translation): Journey on a Cloud by Veronique Massenot and Elise Mansot. Do head on over to read what I have to say about this very special book and what it inspired me and my girls to get up to. Then come back here for some more fun activities you could get up to alongside Journey on a Cloud.
Here’s some fun music to go with Journey on a Cloud:
Clouds by Dog on Fleas
Cloudbusting by Neil Halstead (or the Kate Bush version if you prefer)
Cloud Shape Animals by Harley String Band
In the Clouds by Laurie Berkner
Painting By Chagall by The Weepies
J reading Journey on a Cloud
Apart from what we got up to (which you can read about with our review over at The Crafty Crow), here are some other projects that would be great to do alongside reading Journey on a Cloud:
Make your own cloud – some great science projects here including this one on You Tube and this one from Steve Spangler.
Create some Chagall inspired art with inspiration from Art Lessons for Kids.
Pablo Picasso remarked during the 1950s, “Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what colour really is”, so this book is a great opportunity to lay with different shades of colour – I love this simple, beautiful stacking game made from paint charts, created by kedublock, found via
From 17 to 20 November, the Institut français in London will be celebrating magic of children’s books, illustration and films through an inspirational series of events at their Youth Festival. Children aged 3 to 15 will have the opportunity to hear and meet French and British authors and illustrators, have their books signed and take part in story-telling, workshops and talks!
Guests include Quentin Blake, Michael Rosen, François Place, Stéphanie Blake, Carl Norac, Isabelle Chatellard, Ed Vere, Véronique Joffre,Gaëtan Dorémus, Jean-François Martin, Alexis Deacon, Kit Wright, and Bruce Ingman.
Quentin Blake, a longterm patron of the festival and François Place, one of France’s leading artists and respected fiction writer, will be on stage to kick off the launch event. Quentin Blake is an English cartoonist, illustrator and children’s author, well known for his work with the writer Roald Dahl and famous for his humour. François Place is best known for his works The Last Giants, The Old Man Crazy About Drawing and The Atlas of the Geographers of Orbae, which has been celebrated as a masterpiece of children’s literature. These two artists will animate a drawing duel (Wed 17 Nov, 6.30pm), which will provide an engaging exchange of ideas for all to watch!
Ciné-comptines with Michèle Baczynsky
Storytelling events are programmed for all ages. The younger kids will be dazzled by the cine-nursery rhymes on the theme of ‘Monsters, fairies and other strange creatures’, through sound and image, organised by Michèle Baczynsky (Sat 20 Nov, 10am). Offering a mesmerising spectacle of word, songs and cinematic surprises this event will provide an unforgettable treat. The older ones are invited to travel with Mohamed Baouzzi, who is a well-known and loved French story-teller born in Marrakech (Sat 20 Nov, 11am). Children can listen to him tell tales from around the world whilst camels graze around camp fires on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains.
Image from Eleanor's Secret
On Saturday 20 November Ciné lumière will screen a UK premiere of Eleanor’s Secret, an animation by Dominique Monféry, which tells the captivating story of a little boy called Natanaël and his brave journey to save a band of story-book characters in danger of disappearing.
Père Castor, the lovable creation of Paul Faucher, is celebrated through a comprehensive exhibition, covering the history of the collection from the very first publication in 1936 to it’s most recent successes (18 Nov – 17 Dec) and talk (18 Nov, 7.30pm). Michael Rosen, one of Père Castor’s biggest fans, along with Michel Defourney, will share their love and knowledge of this legendary collection. Michael Rosen, leading poet and children’s book author, has written numerous illustrated books. Michel Defourny is Professor of
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Funny, it reminds me of The Yellow Balloon, which you recently reviewed, which reminded me of Umbrella by the Schuberts and reminded others of Anno’s Journey. Seems this is a popular theme. How would you say they are each different? Style of illustrations? This one has text and Yellow Balloon and Umbrella are wordless, right?
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That book looks beautiful. When I was teaching, I did some dream-inspired surrealist collages with my class using found images in magazines- they were wonderful.
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It looks gorgious. I put it in my coming book basket. We are Chagall fans at home….
It’s funny because I have never seen anything from this duo in the book shops I go. The editor does not seem very well distributed and it’s a pity….
The hokusai wave based story looks very nice to (http://correspondances.hautetfort.com/archive/2010/03/16/la-grande-vague.html).
Thanks a lot Zoe !