Zara and the Crying Cloud

Ages 3–5

After a tumble scrapes her knee, Zara cries and cries long after the hurt is gone, until a droopy little cloud named Puffy and a patient, unhurried lap teach her that tears just need time to fall.

Children learn that crying is not something to rush or be ashamed of — feelings need space to fall, like rain, before the sun can come back out.

Zara, in her grass-green overalls and yellow rain boots, ran and hopped and skipped so fast, laughing at the sky. Then a stone said "not so fast!" Down she tumbled.

Down she went on the warm stone path! Up came a wobble in her chin. The watering can tipped over. Ouch — and then the tears began.

The scrape got a bandage with a shining star. The hurt on her knee floated away. But the tears? They stayed and stayed and stayed.

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