The Cloud Artist (English/Choctaw) |

Leona, a little Choctaw girl, uses the sky as a canvas and the clouds as paint. When a traveling man learns of her gift and invites her to join the carnival, the Cloud Artist must make a decision about what kind of artist she wants to be. For ages 4-9. 9781937054748 Illustrated by Merisha Sequoia Clark and translated by Dora Wickson.

I was interviewed at ABC studio’s Good Day, PA about this book. Click on Link if you would like to view.

Click here to go to Amazon reviews.
School Library Journal (September 2018) The Cloud Artist is listed as one of the “quality children’s books with Native and indigenous representation.” (Native Voices)(Link)
Smithsonian Library has The Cloud Artist in their collection! (Link)
From Trails to Truths: Oklahoma History from a Native American Perspective (Link)
Children’s Literacy Initiative – 2019 Native American Heritage Month Book List (Link)
Diversity Rocks the Book-2019 List (Link)
Finalist 2018 Oklahoma Book Award (Link)
Finalist 2018/2019 First Nation Communities Read Award (Link)
Finalist 2017 Writers’ League of Texas Book Award (Link)
Seattle Art Museum Jeffrey Gibson Reading Room-Recommended Exhibit Reading List (Link)
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (Link)
Midwest Book Review (Feb 2018) The Cloud Artist is “recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.”
Diverse Book Finder. “Here Now: Picture Books Portraying Contemporary Native Life, Part 2.” (Link).
Wonderful New Diverse Picture Books for Native American Heritage Month (11/7/2017) November is a great time to read this book to children! (Link)
5 Books to Read on the Road (July 2018) Invisible Publishing (Link)

Review: K-GR 4–Calling upon the ancient tradition of storytellers, the advance reading copy of The Cloud Artist begins with the words, “My Choctaw grandmother told me this story when I was about knee-high.” as it sets the stage for a tale that incorporates a love of nature, Native American lore, and the wonder of a small girl who discovers she can paint pictures in the sky by waving her fingers at the clouds. Author Sherri Maret and illustrator Merisha Sequoia Clark brilliantly incorporate their Choctaw heritage into this multicultural, bilingual picture book that delivers a tale of magic in the style of the elders repeating the stories of their culture. From the historical timeline subtly portrayed in the illustrations, through the child’s encounter with difficulties and emotions that she must work out for herself, to the joy of seeing a lifetime of love in a multi-generational family, this story will enthrall and delight parents, grandparents, and children of all ages. The text is presented in both English and Choctaw, with a small graphic border dividing the two. The book and worksheets together would also make great emergency plans for a substitute teacher to utilize. Highly Recommended–Joanne K. Hammond, Librarian, Chambersburg [PA] Area School District

The Cloud Artist (English/Choctaw) was a great find for our unit on Native American Art. It’s important for students to recognize how diverse the Indigenous Nations are, especially since we tend to blend and generalize our ideas of Indigenous people in America. Providing students with beautiful literature like The Cloud Artist, provides students a window to a much deeper perspective.
If you haven’t added this book to your library, please check it out.-Joel Scholten-Reading Specialist/Art teacher Omaha, Nebraska

In the summer of 2016, I had a dream that I had written and published a picture book about a girl who could paint with the clouds. Now that dream has come true! First page below with Choctaw translation at the bottom. Click here if you would like to see illustrations which are included on Amazon.

Four Multicultural Children’s Book Day Reviews (1/27/18) #READYOURWORLD

-Mrs. P. (Actress Kathy Kinney) review (Link)

-Nikita Gupta review (Link)

-Julie Yeros review (Link)

-Shauna Hibbitts video review (Link)