Cloud with a yellow coat
Award winner. Story about hope and miracle
| Author | Nikolina Manojlović Vračar |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jelena Brezovec |
| Original Title | Oblak u žutom kaputu |
| ISBN | 978-953-8008-46-7 |
| Format | hardcover |
| Pages | 32 |
| Size | 25x26 cm |
| Age range | Beginning readers (5 – 7), Young readers (6 – 10) |
| Category | Heartworming stories |
|---|---|
| Tag | Renowned Croatian authors |
CHILDREN’S CHOICE – GRIGOR VITEZ AWARD 2019
High, high among the clouds, while he was bravely preparing for his jump, parachutist dropped his brand new, yellow coat through the airplane door. Warm as the sun, yellow as the ripest lemon, coat was flying in the air, spreading his sleeves in this newfound freedom. It was waging the sleeves, greeting all the birds that flew around him.
Who knows for how long this flying and dancing would have lasted, when he accidently got stranded on a little cloud.
A girl named Vanya was looking forward to her dinner – an oatmeal porridge. After dinner, her tummy was full and rounded and her cheeks warm and red. Her bed became the most wonderful place in the world.
Like every night, mother came and gave her a big kiss. Vanya was falling asleep, already dreaming about the surprise her mother promised to give her in the morning.
Mother quietly closed the door, wrapped herself in a blue, warm scarf and took old woollen clothes out of an old chest. She had to spend all her money on firewood, there was nothing left for Vanya’s new coat. That is why she decided to sew together pieces of old clothes and make a coat for Vanya until morning.While she was pulling the thread through soft wool, mother didn’t even notice a little cloud in a yellow coat watching her through the window.
Cloud with the yellow coat is a story about miracles and humanity, about hopelessness and hope, about life in the sky and life on earth, about coldness and warmth, lightness and heaviness.
Atmospheric and touching, this story brings out many questions. Is everything that happens to us just a coincidence or is there some invisible, extraordinary plan, which brings things in our lives when we need them, and because we deserve them? Are we open enough to receive surprising and unexpected gifts in our lives and enjoy their magic? Can we make a sacrifice for people and things that are important to us? Can we truly feel the gratitude for the things we already have?
Yes, we can, if our thoughts are light as a cloud, our intentions strong as wind and our heart like a yellow coat – warm as the sun and yellow as the ripest lemon.
Author: Nikolina Manojlović Vračar
Nikolina Manojlović Vračar is a Croatian writer, illustrator, and multimedia artist. She was born in 1976 in Zagreb, Croatia. She graduated in graphic arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. Nikolina is known for her work in children’s literature, including picture books and interactive storytelling. She has received multiple awards for her illustrations and literary contributions. Her artistic style combines playful visuals with educational themes. In addition to writing and illustrating, she creates performances and workshops for children. Her works have been published in Croatia and internationally. She often explores themes of imagination, nature, and childhood experiences. Nikolina continues to inspire young readers through her creative storytelling and artistic projects.
Illustrator: Jelena Brezovec
Jelena Brezovec has a master’s degree in social studies. For a long time, drawing was just a hobby, until 2008 when she became a co-founder of the publishing house Evenio and decided to study digital illustration, with the focus on children’s illustration. So far, she has illustrated more than 40 picture books and many other publications. She is the winner of the Grigor Vitez “Bird” Award, a special praise from the children’s jury. She has illustrated the most popular children’s book series in Croatia – Mrljek & Prljek. Her illustrations have been part of many exhibitions throughout Croatia. She lives and works in Varaždin, Croatia.
