Cloud Puppy V02 Game On! by Kelly Leigh Miller is a fun continuation of Cloud Puppy V01. I read this via an online reader copy. It is due in early March 2025.
While I like Cloud Puppy (part cloud, part puppy) it can be visually overly cute and sugary. It is for for the reader who likes friendship stories and stories about gaming (including LARPING). It does lend itself to a more stereotypical “girl story” but as one of the stories included tells us, we can like what we like and that is all that matters. This time the lessons we learn are broken down into several stories, with each friend having one story pretty much centered around them. These lessons include teaching that friends can enjoy all types of different video games and/or things and do not have to like the same things to be friends. And it is fun to try new things. Also, don’t base your opinions on arbitrary lists (this game is S level or A level and that dictates it is good, without giving the “not good” a chance). Of course, do your best and try. Then the lesson that everyone plays games their own way and you don’t have to play the same way to play together).
As the cover shows, this book is cute. There are fluffy clouds and sweet unicorn-bears. There are furry monsters with anxiety who like to LARP but afraid of being laughed at. The four friends are different, but have similarities. Everything is quick and busy (text and art). Just take your time and enjoy each section. Cute for the early reader, a reader who needs a little help and those who still need to be read to.