Ploof

Ploof

by Ben Clanton, Andy Chou Musser

Come play with Ploof! Meet a friendly cloud full of feelings in this interactive picture book for fans of Hervé Tullet's Press Here, from the creator of Narwhal and Jelly and the co-creator of Science Explorers.

Ploof is a puffy cloud who's a little lonely — but now you're here, and the fun can begin! Can you help Ploof overcome their shyness? Play pretend? Make Ploof laugh with your funny faces, find their hiding spot, give them a high five! Full of imaginative and interactive fun, each page of this perfect book for preschoolers offers a chance to play. By following cues to say hello, clap, blow, shake, wave or make a funny face, young readers will be delighted to see the effects of their actions on Ploof. They'll learn social-emotional skills like empathy, encouragement and kindness through Ploof's emotional journey — and, along the way, they'll learn how to be a fantastic friend!

Join Ploof’s adventures in a brand-new series co-written and co-illustrated by Narwhal and Jelly creator Ben Clanton and up-and-coming picture book maker Andy Chou Musser.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Nature, Fiction, Emotion, Humor

56 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2023

About the author

Ben Clanton is the author/illustrator of the Narwhal and Jelly series as well as a number of other books as IT CAME IN THE MAIL, MO'S MUSTACHE, and TATER TALES. When Ben isn't doodling up stories (and often when he is) he likes to cook, explore outdoors, and play basketball. Ben lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and kids. Find out more about Ben at www.benclanton.com.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for an interactive picture book, and this one especially will be fun to read aloud. Though Ploof the cloud (never identified as such in the text) is basically wordless, they are wonderfully emotive -- sad, happy, shy, scared, playful, etc. The illustrations are especially delightful. Kids will eat this book up.

[Myra Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not everyday you (an adult) find yourself picking up a child's book and almost involuntarily interacting with the pictures because...why not?

This is honestly such a cute book, and even though I don't normally review picture books, I just had to, because it made me smile, blow air on a cloud like it's my birthday candle, and high five a piece of paper.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of interactive picture books. This one is excellent though, and young kids will love meeting Ploof and playing along. I plan on reading this with kindergarten classes in library this year.

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great interactive story. A sweet story about a cloud named Ploof, and it's fun to participate and read along.

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute interactive read-aloud. A sure bet for pre-K/K storytimes.

[Melissa]

Long but super interactive. Would be a fun classroom read aloud.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLOOF is such a fun, interactive book and I’m excited to give it a try in toddler storytime. The little cloud protagonist is a charmer and there are so many opportunities for movement and engagement. I’ve heard it’s a series and I can’t wait to read about this little cloud’s next big adventure!

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Tundra Books for the ARC of this interactive cloud picture book!

My 7-year old LOVED this so much! He interacted with all the pages, cheering for Ploof to do tricks, blowing to help Ploof get bigger, and doing a search and find for the little cloud. The art was absolutely adorable!

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable!!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adorable book! Very interactive and engaging. Ploof, the cloud, is so freakin cute! Love it.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girlie loves this one. Particularly how interactive and fun it is!

[Raven Andrus]

SO CUTE

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Do you have a toddler or an active reader? This book is for you! Ploof makes this story super interactive and fun. Pick up a copy today.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute interactive book that encourages tots to communicate with a friendly, shape-shifting cloud. Harmless fun for an engaging read-aloud.

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 1/3

Emotions, Clouds

Great choice for story time interaction with the audience.

[Kary H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, interactive readaloud that's perfect for storytime.

[Colorado Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty long book about clouds, interactive,

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interact with Ploof the cloud!

[Jennifer Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for an interactive lap book, Ploof by Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser is a hit! Heck, even the title is fun to say. Young kids will love cheering, clapping, guessing, shaking, finding, and blowing this cute little cloud around. My favorite part was finding Ploof hidden among the sheep.

The artwork is soft and simple which is perfect for this story. There is a uniformity of alternating white pages with words and blue cottony background for the cloud. I will add this is a cross between a board book and a picture book in that there is a heft to the front and back covers like that of a board book, but the inside pages are made of a heavy paper. It feels durable.

I look forward to more Ploof adventures as there is much potential for future interactions.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: This is Ploof. Ploof is feeling lonely. Can you say hello?

Premise/plot: Ploof is a cloud that your little one can "interact" with as you read the book aloud. How is it interactive? Think Little Einsteins, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Blue's Clues, Team Umizoomi, etc. For example, "What's Ploof pretending to be now? Ah, I see! Good one! Wow! So many shapes! Can you guess them all? Hmmm... Ploof is running out of steam. Let's help puff Ploof back up. Can you blow softly on Ploof?"

My thoughts: I like this gentle read. I love the pastel colors. I like the friendly narrative. Ploof is adorably drawn. Will this one prove an engaging again-again read? I think it has potential for some little ones at least.

I do think this one is for preschoolers (or even younger). I greatly enjoyed it. I'm torn between four stars and five stars.

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This interactive book takes the fun of seeing things in the clouds to another level. Ploof shares their emotions with readers, often prompting the reader to have the audience help Ploof. Got the opinion of my 5 year old grandson and after reading it at least 5 times in two days, we gave it a thumbs up. Minimal text and engaging illustrations guide readers through common emotions. We clapped our hand to encourage Ploof as well as other actions that made sharing this book a lot of fun. Hoping that it is large enough so that sharing with my larger groups of young families will be possible. Thanks Netgalley.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ploof is a simple, interactive book for younger readers. Interactive books have picked up in popularity in recent years, and while this isn't the best or most novel among them, it is a fun little title. Our friendly cloud, Ploof, can be different shapes, needs encouragement, feels timid or shy, and also takes us on some "seek and find" adventures as well. Enjoyable for younger readers who need a little motivation to interact with books/reading.

Read as a nomination in the Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[Deborah]

An interactive book for the young set, a sweet story with deftly woven-in subjects to talk about like feelings, relative size, numbers. Unlike Press Here, the book does not require physical contact to keep the pages turning, which makes it perfect for reading to small groups.

Or one-on one! I read this to my 3-year-old grandson and he was completely delighted from beginning to end.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This interactive picture book has cute, simple illustrations and playful text. As kids interact with the book, such as by blowing, the next illustration shows how the cloud changes, and the book gives the cloud characterization and emotions as well. It's very cute and endearing, and I love the art is adorable. This is a little bit long for what it is, but because many of the scenarios are self-contained over just a couple pages, adults can modify the length for their child's attention span.

I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet interactive book for toddlers is just what you'd expect from the creator of the "Narwhal and Jelly" series - fun and adorable. Meet Ploof, a little cloud who can assume various shapes.

Your child will be encouraged to help Ploof by blowing on him, shaking him loose from a tree, and giving him a big old high five.

I suspect this is one that will be read again and again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books for sharing.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly Delightful. Ploof is the best friend for any preschool child. There is nothing more fun than to encourage Ploof and cheer him on as he assumes to many different shapes (animals! cheese! Rockets!) for the reader/friend's entertainment. Ploof is an interactive delight which encourages the young reader to name feelings (based on expressive expressions), to count, and to play a variation of Where's Waldo? (Where's Ploof?). Ben Clanton is brilliant and I am crossing my fingers and my toes for a Ploof sequel.

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I'm continuing to read my 3 Yr Old's favorite books with her favorite book from 2023. This book is fantastic, fun for your toddler to read and be-friend Ploof. A energetic cloud who forms shapes, plays hide and seek, and much more. My daughter loved this book I bought her a stuffed cloud with a face she calls ploof and takes everywhere with her. This is a fun book for a parent to read to their child highly recommend this one.

My Eden Ranking....
1. (2023) Ploof (E-2023)
2. (2019) The Story of Rock (E-2022)
3. (2021) Disney's Dracula (E-2021)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adorable, engaging and interactive book about a cloud with lots of feelings will delight preschoolers. The fact that it helps them understand and give name to their own various emotions and learn how to encourage others is a benefit that only the adults need to know.

I highly recommend this book!

My thanks to Tundra books for allowing me to access a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, interactive book in a similar vein to "Mix it Up", however, it engages with the character on the page as if its a actual entity with feelings. It does an excellent job of connecting the child physically with Ploof's actions and experiences. I feel like it would be excellent for using in a pre-k classroom for SEL, and work with squirrelly kiddos to get them engaged. Thanks to Penguin Random House for an advanced copy!