Charles G. Shaw (1892–1974)

This is a beautifully simple, elegant book that would be appropriate for readers across many age groups. Each page repeats the theme: a white picture on a blue background, and text stating that the picture looks like something in particular, but is not. Only at the end do you find out it is a cloud in the sky. (Children who enjoy Little Cloud by Eric Carle might find these theme familiar.) The book is so simple, but so sweet. This would be an excellent book for very young readers, because of show more the repetition, and because it reinforces many of the words children learn very early on (bird, tree, sheep). But it also could be an interesting book for older children, to bring up the point of how things can be perceived different ways, and could lead into a fun activity of looking at clouds to see something, or in fact, creating their own cloud art. show less

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw uses imagination to describe what clouds in the sky may look like and keeps you guessing until the end what it could possibly be. Each page of the book suggests what a cloud may look like accompanied by a brilliant picture.

I loved how the author would describe what the picture looked like then tell you no that is not what the picture was. The use of the contrasting colors in the pictures really captured your attention.

I would use then in the show more classroom as a prelude to a discussion on perception and how each individual has a unique perception. I would also use this book to follow along with an art project using paint splattering on construction paper and then guessing what the shape looks like. show less

It Looked like Spilt Milk is a book that has been included in the family section of every art museum I have worked in. This premise of this book is straightforward and lacks any defined plot, but provides wonderful opportunities to talk about shapes, perception and spark a child’s creativity.

Shaw uses simple torn paper to create shapes which resemble an object such as an ice cream cone or bird on one side of the page, while the text on the other side reads: “Sometimes it liked like a show more (fill in the object), but it wasn’t a (object).” Ending with “sometimes it looked like spilt mild. But it wasn’t spilt milk. It was just a cloud in the sky”.

I appreciate how basic yet sophisticated this story is because it shows young readers that creativity and inspiration can be found anywhere and in anything. I feel that somehow children know this inherently, but Shaw does a great job of harnessing this concept and showing examples of how organic forms like spills and clouds can resemble any shape or object, and that stories may grow from these ideas! I can’t wait to read this book to my child outside while creating our own narratives from the clouds above and discussing how each cloud looks different to different people. show less

The white shape silhouetted against a blue background changes on every page. Is it a rabbit, a bird, an ice-cream cone, or just spilt milk? Kids are kept guessing until the surprise ending, and they're encouraged to improvise similar games of their own.