Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Bella the Umbrella: The Chronicles of the Clothes Mind Series Book Two by Lia Brent is the delightful story of Bella the Umbrella who lives in a house down the street. She has shiny rainbow stripes and, like any other umbrella, likes the wet chill. She is always outside on a gray and stormy day, but when the sun comes out she is hung on a hard hook, which is not warm like a human hand. The bright boot on the ground sees Bella’s frown and gives her a plan to become happy. Will the plan work and will Bella be able to wipe the frown from her face?

The story conveys a wonderful message to young readers about staying happy and contented with what one has. The illustrations are bright and colorful and I like the idea of giving an umbrella a name, individuality, and an identity of its own. The images also give a good pace and movement to the story and make the message palpable to young readers. Bella’s angst is real and relatable and what makes the story exciting is how she gets out of her dilemma and finds happiness. It is a good book for storytelling sessions in classrooms and school libraries, and gives children tips on how to make themselves happy, despite their surroundings and circumstances. Children should be introduced to these types of storybooks which are useful when it comes to helping youngsters understand an idea, message, thought, or a concept.