LITERARY TITAN REVIEW: “The Day the Clouds Went Away” is a charming and beautifully illustrated children’s book that tells the story of Princess Claudia, a bold and independent young princess with low vision. Claudia, with the help of her guide owl Iris and the somewhat clumsy wizard Fumbledore, learns an important lesson about the value of clouds and rain after she commands the clouds to disappear, only to face unintended consequences. Richard Rieman’s storytelling is engaging and whimsical, capturing the reader’s imagination from the first page. The characters are well-developed, each with distinct and endearing personalities. Princess Claudia is a refreshing protagonist who is strong-willed yet open to learning. The interactions with various clouds, such as Cyrus McCirrus and Chrissy the Cumulus Cat Cloud, are not only educational but also filled with playful dialogue that keeps young readers entertained while subtly imparting knowledge about different types of clouds and their roles in nature. One of the book’s strengths is its clever integration of scientific facts into the narrative. For instance, through Claudia’s conversations with the clouds, children learn that clouds are essential for rain, which in turn is crucial for the survival of plants and animals. This educational aspect is seamlessly woven into the story, making the learning experience enjoyable. Additionally, the book’s illustrations are vibrant and captivating, perfectly complementing the text and bringing the fantastical elements of the story to life. The narrative also thoughtfully addresses themes of acceptance and understanding. Claudia’s initial frustration with the clouds, driven by her desire for a perfect sunny day, transforms into a realization of their importance. This journey reflects broader lessons about appreciating the natural world and understanding that everything has a role to play. “The Day the Clouds Went Away” is an enchanting read for children and adults alike.

KIRKUS REVIEW: This is the rare picture book featuring a visually impaired main character in which their disability is not the focus of the story, but rather an incidental part of it. Young Princess Claudia gets what she wished for—to her chagrin—in Richard Rieman's illustrated children's book. As Princess Claudia's 8th birthday approaches, the young royal (who has impaired vision) is determined to have clear, blue skies over her party. When she discovers that a storm is, in fact, rolling in, she turns to resident wizard Fumbledore: "I have never seen clouds, but they make loud thunder that hurts my ears, and they bring rain, so I order you to make them go away!" Fumbledore reluctantly casts a spell to do just that. But a single cirrus cloud (named Cyrus McCirrus) remains and pleads his case with Claudia, who is wary of the rain he might bring and banishes him. Cyrus is quickly followed by Chrissy the Cumulus Cat Cloud, a group of Stratus Rabbits, and Misty the Fog Cloud. Claudia dismisses each in turn until, one day, Fumbledore cries to her in a panic that the local flora is dying in the newly arid climate. This creates problems for the entire Princessdom, teaching the headstrong Claudia that balance is necessary in nature. With this debut children's book, the author has found a simple but effective way to introduce different types of clouds to young readers. As each new cloud parades in front of Claudia to try to win her over, they explain their roles in the meteorological cycle; a page of after matter details them further.

KIRKUS REVIEW: This is the rare picture book featuring a visually impaired main character in which their disability is not the focus of the story, but rather an incidental part of it. Young Princess Claudia gets what she wished for—to her chagrin—in Richard Rieman's illustrated children's book. As Princess Claudia's 8th birthday approaches, the young royal (who has impaired vision) is determined to have clear, blue skies over her party. When she discovers that a storm is, in fact, rolling in, she turns to resident wizard Fumbledore: "I have never seen clouds, but they make loud thunder that hurts my ears, and they bring rain, so I order you to make them go away!" Fumbledore reluctantly casts a spell to do just that. But a single cirrus cloud (named Cyrus McCirrus) remains and pleads his case with Claudia, who is wary of the rain he might bring and banishes him. Cyrus is quickly followed by Chrissy the Cumulus Cat Cloud, a group of Stratus Rabbits, and Misty the Fog Cloud. Claudia dismisses each in turn until, one day, Fumbledore cries to her in a panic that the local flora is dying in the newly arid climate. This creates problems for the entire Princessdom, teaching the headstrong Claudia that balance is necessary in nature. With this debut children's book, the author has found a simple but effective way to introduce different types of clouds to young readers. As each new cloud parades in front of Claudia to try to win her over, they explain their roles in the meteorological cycle; a page of after matter details them further.

Richard Rieman has transitioned from a career in radio news to become a significant figure in making audiobooks and children's literature accessible to all. He founded Illustrated Audiobooks and the nonprofit Imagination Storybooks, which focus on creating audio versions of illustrated books with rich audio descriptions, making them accessible to blind, deaf, and neurodiverse children. Key achievements include: *100 of his audiobooks with Audio Description (AD) are available through the U.S. Library of Congress. *Received awards from the American Council of the Blind and the Audio Publishers Association. *Produces accessible videos available through the Described and Captioned Media Program. *Hosts an award-winning podcast "Illustrated Audiobooks by the Audiobook Wizard." *Created an accessible version of "Winnie the Pooh" available on Audible and other platforms. *Currently producing "The Accessible Wonderful Wizard of Oz" with an all blind/low vision cast. Richard has personal experience with vision loss due to glaucoma, which informs his work. He's authored "The Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation" and continues to advocate for accessibility in storytelling, employing blind and low vision professionals in his projects.

Publisher: Illustrated Audiobooks
Author: Richard Rieman
Illustrator: Barbara Owczarek
ISBN: 978-1639390038
Size (H x W): 11x8
Weight: 8 ounces
Cover Type: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 40
Language: English
Date Published: 2024-06-01