My Pet Cloud began as only a title, courtesy of Kisha Gianni’s sister, who uttered it years ago. But upon getting married and starting to think about kids of her own, Gianni, a Santa Ynez–raised interior designer, decided to write the whole story about a boy who adopts a cloud as a pet and names him Harold.
It’s a very sweet tale about not being alone, no matter where you go, brought to life by the illustrations of Kisha’s mom, Lyn, and told in a tone and style that could prove incredibly popular for children aged 0-7. Better yet, it’s the kind of good-message-but-easy-to-enjoy book that parents won’t get sick of reading, time and time again.
“It’s like an imaginary friend, but more tangible, and everyone has access to clouds,” said Kisha, who was inspired by the quirkiness of Shel Silverstein but still finds solace in the uplifting themes of Dumbo and The Little Engine That Could. “I feel like My Pet Cloud has a really good message of security and constancy for kids.”