Head Full of Clouds

“There are many surreal surprises in Sanei’s expansive gouache-and-colored pencil illustrations, from recurring remnants of the child’s oceanic dream to a topsy-turvy cartwheel scene with slow-motion movements suspended in transparent air bubbles. The poetic text has a stream-of-consciousness quality, made all the more immersive by the second-person point of view narration.” —STARRED REVIEW, Booklist

“A contemplative, inviting second-person text and playfully surreal illustrations capture the nature of dreams and the magic of the real world. . . . Sanei’s mesmerizing illustrations — acrylic gouache and colored pencil, finished digitally — beautifully enhance Schwartz’s unhurried, image-rich narrative with surprising perspectives, a lush color palette, and imaginative interpretation of the text.” —STARRED REVIEW, The Horn Book

“[Schwartz’s] rich descriptions engage all the senses, effectively emphasizing the protagonist’s experiences as she wanders through city streets and lush parks. Sanei’s heavenly acrylic, colored pencil, and gouache illustrations augment the magical moments described in the text. A skillful use of shadows, reflections, and perspective deepens the young girl’s admiration of everyday beauty.” —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

“A grounded yet dreamy look at how we occupy our place in this vast world.” —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

“Schwartz’s poetic lines and Sanei’s acrylic gouache, colored pencil, and digital artwork encourage attentiveness to the surrounding world in this dreamy picture book.” —Publishers Weekly

“This beautifully illustrated fictional picture book explores the experience of getting lost in the world around you — only to become more present than ever. . . . The flowing, surreal artwork enhances this sense of discovery, drawing readers into a world where small details can be extraordinary. A gentle and meditative read, this book invites children to slow down, observe, and embrace mindfulness through the act of truly seeing and feeling what is around them.” —Quebec Library Association

“Head Full of Clouds is for the people watchers, tree huggers, and curious learners. . . . Observant young readers who enjoyed Darren Lebeuf’s My Ocean Is Blue or Oliver Jeffers’ Meanwhile Back on Earth will recognize the same thoughtful admiration of our beautiful world in Schwartz and Sanei’s Head Full of Clouds.” —Young Adulting