Mandeep’s Cloudy Days by Kuljinder Kaur Brar & Samrath Kaur (ARC Review)

Title: Mandeep’s Cloudy Days
Creators: Kuljinder Kaur Brar &
Samrath Kaur
Type: Fiction
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Annick Press
Date published: October 22, 2024

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Annick Press in exchange for an honest review.

Spending time with her dad makes Mandeep’s days shine. They have cha parties, perform Bhangra shows, and best of all, they write jokes together in her favorite unicorn journal. But when Dad starts a job as a truck driver, he starts being away from home most of the week. Without Dad, storm clouds start taking over Mandeep’s sunny days, casting a shadow on all the things she used to love doing. Can anything help Mandeep feel better?

The dynamic author-illustrator team behind the National Council Teachers of English Notable Children’s Book winner My Name Is Saajin Singh brings a new poignant story about father-daughter relationships, how we cope with being separated from our loved ones, and how to find glimpses of light in our days even when clouds threaten to settle in.

⤖ My Review ⬻

Mandeep’s Cloudy Days got me right in the feels! When I was very young, my dad left Romania ahead of my mom and me to get settled in Austria before we joined him a year later. I remember really missing him and not understanding why he had to be gone so long, so I definitely resonated with Mandeep on that. I teared up quite a bit throughout this book as it brought back those memories, and I felt deeply for Mandeep’s journey.

I also liked that while focusing on the negative emotions Mandeep is experiencing, Mandeep’s Cloudy Days also offers solutions on how to adjust or change those feelings through self-awareness and coping methods. It does a beautiful job of showing that it’s okay to feel sad, but also how important it is to find ways to manage those emotions. I also really liked the illustrations and vibe overall! I definitely recommend.