Ivy and the Lonely Raincloud

PreS-Gr 1—Friendship can be found in the most unexpected pairings. Who would guess that a rain cloud and a little girl could become fast friends? A moody Ivy, wearing a sunny yellow dress and red shoes, is clearly not happy. The childlike illustrations emphasize Ivy's furrowed brow, crossed arms, and matching frown. Harnett uses a combination of gouache, watercolor, and colored pencils to create a fresh, folk art urban look to tell this modern tale of an unusual friendship. Patterned tablecloths, awnings, hats, and other striped details embody the vibrant city feel. Ivy standing on a "Welcome" mat as she shouts, "Leave me alone!" hints at her yearning for connection, even while her posture and her words suggest otherwise. Through changes in perspective, Harnett indicates shifts in the story and movement and growth in the understanding of the cloud. From above the street the cloud is perplexed and far from connecting with anyone but does notice a kindred lone girl in a city of people with friends. Only when the cloud comes closer and learns more about Ivy does it begin to understand her. Grumpy Ivy does not really go through the same process or epiphany, thus making the rain cloud the main character and focus of the plot. While Ivy gets first billing, the rain cloud is truly the hero.