When Ayden Paints the Sky – Book Review

The Story

‘When Ayden Paints the Sky’, written by Celia Botto and illustrated by Samantha Lane Fiddy, is a delightful rhyming tale about a young girl who uses her artistic talents to express her emotions. The book is brought to life with vivid illustrations that beautifully reflect Ayden’s moods and emotional journey.

Ayden, the sole character in the story, paints vibrant colours across the sky, representing her emotions. The connection between the sky and the paints represents Ayden’s emotional world.

Reading the story

When I review a picture book, I always read it to my grandchildren first. I ask them questions about the story and observe their reactions to see how much they enjoyed the book and how it impacted them.

I first read the book to my two-year-old grandson, whose eyes widened in awe at the pages with vibrant colours. He fell silent when we reached the page featuring blue rain sprinkled with various hues, but he pointed to each color and said them aloud.

When he discovered the page covered in yellows, he collected a few of his favourite yellow toys and arranged them on top of it. A broad smile spread across his face!

Reading ‘When Ayden Paints the Sky’ to my two older grandchildren led to a discussion about colours associated with feelings. Inspired by our conversation, I asked them to paint what they were feeling.

They gathered their brushes and paints, ready to colour their emotions onto paper. Octavia chose warm colours—yellows, oranges, and reds— showing a sense of happiness and enthusiasm. Ludovic chose cool colours with a pop of orange as he has a more calming nature.
As they painted, they explained their choices,. It was heartwarming to hear them talk about their feelings through art. They asked me whether what colours I would paint. At that moment, I replied that I would paint the rainbow! This activity was a fun way to spend an afternoon bonding with my grandchildren.

‘When Ayden Paints the Sky’ is a delightful book that both children and adults will enjoy reading together. It will inspire you to reach for your paintbrushes and start creating!”

Disclaimer: I received ‘When Ayden Paints the Sky’ for review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Available to purchase at Mascot Books.