A Cloud in a Jar

Aaron Lewis Krol, Carlos Vélez Aguilera (Illustrator)

$18.99

Publication Date: October 3rd, 2023

Publisher:

Page Street Kids

ISBN:

9781645679936

Pages:

Otto Bookstore

1 on hand, as of Apr 27 9:14pm

(Juvenile Fiction )

On Our Shelves Now

Description

It’s just after midnight on Walton Wharf West, but there’s no time for sleeping—adventure awaits! Get dressed, grab your oars, let’s not delay. Lou Dozens is here, and we’re sailing to Firelight Bay!

In this modern, young, bold, and inventive adventure, Lou drags her more cautious friend on a daring voyage across the sea. Though their destination is a glorious land of year-round summers, long slides, and picnics a hundred yards wide, the children there have never seen rain, even once.

The mission is simple: bring Firelight Bay a cloud in a jar. But the journey is anything but. Readers will delight in the story’s twists, turns, and unexpected solutions—from a sail of patchwork handkerchiefs to a net crafted from recycled cell phone chargers that saves a beached whale. It’ll take every knick knack in Lou’s pockets and all the cleverness the pair can muster to safely deliver their gift.

With captivating illustrations and whimsical yet delightfully intricate rhyming text reminiscent of classic children’s poetry, this seafaring quest is one young readers will not soon forget.

About the Author

Aaron Lewis Krol lives with his family in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he writes about climate change science and solutions for the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative. Like many, his early education included many “invention challenges” where students were tasked with building structures from everyday materials, and he’s pretty sure that’s where the idea for Lou Dozens came from. This is his first picture book.

Carlos Vélez Aguilera lived in the oceanside town of Puerto Vallarta for a time and drew from his memory of those beautiful landscapes and the sense of adventure they gave him while illustrating this book. He also poured in his general love of clouds, the sea, and whales. In addition to drawing, Carlos also likes to dance. He lives in Mexico City, Mexico, with his cat, Benito.

Praise for A Cloud in a Jar

"A Cloud in the Jar has everything: clever narration, a straightforward message about bravery and determination, and brilliant artwork [...] a true delight to read out loud."
—BookPage, starred review

"Rollicking verses, packed with bold action verbs [...] echo rocking-boat rhythms. Vivid mixed-media illustrations feature blue shades, suiting the watery, nighttime settings. Ahoy, mateys! Poetic, sea-going fun."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Engrossing [...] [with] immersive, vibrantly detailed illustrations, containing whimsical scenes, rushing motions, and saturated color [...] this fanciful tale offers much to engage and entertain."
—Booklist

"[A] fantastical tale [...] The deep blues and purples of night give way to dawn's frosted pink as Lou Dozens and her best friend encounter gale-force winds, a beached whale, and a furious flock of razorbills on their magical expedition."
—Foreword Reviews