Cloudspotter

by Tom McLaughlin (Artist)

His real name was Franklin. But everyone called him The Cloudspotter ...Have you ever looked up at the sky to see a whole new world developing in the clouds? You have? Then you'll love this book about Franklin. There isn't a single cloud that Franklin can't spot - big ones, small ones, silly ones, sneaky pretend-they-can't-see-you ones. But when Scruffy Dog comes along, things begin to change for Franklin. How can he concentrate on cloudspotting when Scruffy is such a distraction? And what's more important - his hobby or his friend? A beautifully realised picture book, celebrating the power of the imagination and the importance of friendship, from the creator of The Story Machine.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Friendship

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2015

About the author

I write pictures and doodle words for Bloomsbury, Puffin, Oxford University Press, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, The Guardian, Disney, Nickelodeon. After leaving art college in ’97, I spent nearly 10 years as a political cartoonist for The Western Morning News before going freelance.

I’ve been published both as a writer and an illustrator for a number of publishers, had my books translated across Europe and South America. Apart from publishing, I’ve also spent time script writer and a character designer for several animation channels.

I live in Devon, spend most of my days drinking tea and dreaming up new stories.

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book and looking at the illustrations. I really like how the clouds have been shaped in a way which makes them look like ‘adventures in the sky’.
A video clip on literacy shed called ‘A cloudy lesson’ could really support this book and enrich the opportunities for writing, dialogue and creative thinking https://www.literacyshed.com/cloudyle....
I particularly like the ending when the boy and dog become cloud-spotters together and the final page when they are floating off in a hot air balloon made me question what adventures may they be going on next?
Overall a lovely read!

[Mr Bramley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I didn't particularly enjoy the narrative of this story, I did feel a kind of kindred relation to Franklin and so enjoyed the book overall.

Franklin thinks he's happy to be alone, doing important cloudspotting work, but when an unexpected arrival disturbs his routine, he becomes angry and worried.

I can clearly remember the days at school where I would walk around the perimeter of the playground and watch the clouds for shapes during lunch time. I liked to do it alone, and I didn't like to be disturbed. But I can definitely admit that I was a lonely child, so when Franklin figures out that he is indeed lonely, he decides to be friends with the new addition and is happy to continue cloudspotting with his new companion.

What I didn't enjoy about the narrative was the play out of the two point climax. There is an action climax where Franklin sends the new arrival away in anger, and an emotional realisation climax where he then understands he was lonely all along. I think these could have been merged together a little better as they feel quite unnaturally fast paced and disconnected.

[Stanlee Uy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about the power of imagination and the importance of friendship! You could take this book further by going outside and look at the clouds and see what shapes you can see. Then get the children to discuss it with a partner and see how different/fun it is to “cloud spotting” with a friend. Can use this book for PSHE if discussing about friendships.

[Jenn]

“You see, The Cloudspotter didn’t just spot clouds. He spotted adventures in the sky...” 🌥 | Can someone ask Mother Nature what’s up? As if it wasn’t hard enough to remember what day it is already, now it’s snowing in May! Today’s #readaloud pick: The Cloudspotter by Tom McLaughlin

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations.

[Indy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about how a boy uses his imagination to spot the shapes of clouds, as well as finding a furry friend to join him for cloud spotting.

[Fern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take to the skies in this whimsical and heartwarming picture book celebrating the power of imagination and the importance of friendship.

[Paul Graham Terpstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book about friendship.
Very interesting illustration style

[Luella Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOW did I not know that Tom Hardy read bedtime stories until this past week???

As beautiful as the man himself.

I’m now ready for bed. 🥰🥱😴

#TomHardyReads

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good book, some good points on loneliness and inferences but not the most enjoyed

[Nena Heesakkers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een boek waar ik het schooljaar in groep 1-2-3 mee zou starten! Het gaat over vriendschappen, maar ik zie ook voor me om er lekker mee naar buiten te gaan en zelf wolkenavonturen te bedenken.

[Maki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story about being ok being alone and spotting the clouds, using your imagination. He comes to the realisation that it's ok to share your cloud spotting with a boy's best friend.

[Mehsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit klonk heel veel leuker dan dat het eigenlijk was. Een combinatie van een vervelende hoofdpersoon en niet al te goede vertaling.

Laat ik maar eerst beginnen met waarom ik dit boek heb gekozen. Wel dat is makkelijk, houden niet de meeste mensen van wolken kijken? En zien of je er leuke dingen in kan vinden? En als kind is het niet heerlijk om avonturen te bedenken? Dus ja, een boek over wolkenontdekkers? Hartstikke leuk toch?
En ook heb ik het boek gekozen omdat ik Tom McLaughin's andere prentenboek erg leuk vond. Tja, als je weet van schrijvers dat je een boek van ze leuk vond dan zul je toch snel ook andere van hen oppakken.

Ja, ik verwachtte dat ik dit boek hartstikke leuk zou vinden. Wolkenontdekkers, avonturen, en dan nog een vriendschap? Helaas is het toch heel anders dan ik dacht. Het idee was nog steeds leuk, en ik genoot ook best wel van het verhaal tot de vriendschap, maar daarna werd het toch jammer. Waarom? Wel hoe die jongen om ging met die hond. Echt, je doet dat met dat arme beestje? Je kunt niet gewoon een andere manier bedenken dan zo'n extreme? Daar ging mijn vriendelijkheid jegens dat joch.
En dan heb je het einde, dat zou heel wat goed moeten maken, maar sorry, ik kon dat joch toch echt niet zomaar eventjes vergeven voor wat ie deed.

En dan hebben we nog iets waar ik echt een ster voor af moet trekken. De vertaling. Het was erg houterig en er misten woorden waardoor het verhaal niet meer klopte. Dingen spraken elkaar dan tegen, en ja dat is toch echt jammer. En het zorgde er ook voor dat ik uit het verhaal werd getrokken want die zin die liep niet lekker, dus dan weer herlezen en er echt achterkomen dat er gewoon iets miste. Heel jammer!

De illustraties waren toch echt het hoogtepuntje van het boek. Mooi, lekker gedetaileerd, mooie kleuren. Tja, de illustraties die zorgden er echt voor dat ik in het verhaal bleef.

Dus -1 voor de vertaling.
-0.5 voor het vervelende ettertje van een jongen.

Zou ik dit boek aanraden? Enerzijds ja, want wolken en ontdekken en avonturen. Anderzijds nee, want vertaling en slecht personage (of in ieder geval in de loop van het boek).

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com

[Homegrown Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franklin, the main character in the book, seems to share my obsessive personality. He spends his days gazing and studying the clouds around him. He doesn’t need friends, he tells himself, he has his clouds and in them, and his imagination, he finds not only shapes but stories and adventures. He doesn’t need people. I think that’s something that we may all end up telling ourselves in times of loneliness, to escape from the hurt and pain. However, Franklin’s loneliness is shattered when Scruffy Dog shows up one day. This creature won’t leave him alone and won’t be easily dismissed, even though Franklin wants nothing to do with her. It’s only after he contrives a way to get rid of her that he realizes the value of what her company was and that underneath everything he was really just lonely. He finds her again and they renew their friendship.

The story is moving and a good reminder but as with any picture book the illustrations are important as well. Tom McLaughlin almost reminds me of a combination of Oliver Jeffers and Quentin Blake, in the way he creates the world around Franklin and Scruffy Dog. His style varies though in the details and characters. Franklin is adorably geeky with his aviator helmet and huge cloud-hunting backpack. While Scruffy Dog is, well, scruffy. The real treasure though is the clouds. Floating through each page they bring the story to life in a subtle way. The drifting pictures in the sky, a soft reminder that cloudspotting is always better with a friend.

Story Tips:

1. Read this one outside. Preferably on a partly-cloudy day.

[Michael Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes I watched the Tom Hardy video, just like everyone else. And it damn well counts towards my Reading Challenge.