What do you think?
Rate this book
The Police Cloud
In this funny and tender picture book for the youngest child, a fluffy cloud gets a job (with the help of his friend the police helicopter) as a police officer. But no matter how hard he tries, the qualities that make him a cloud seem to get in the way of his duties. He blocks the sun at the park instead of helping people and obscures traffic at an intersection instead of directing it. Upset, the cloud starts to cry. And it's his streaming tears—which inadvertently put out a fire in a burning building—that lead him to his true calling in life: as a firefighter!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2007
1 person is currently reading
51 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 4, 2017
A cloud who wants to be a police officer! Great art and fun story for kids.
July 17, 2019
A cloud dreams of being a police officer, and finally gets his shot at law enforcement.
The book offers a great lesson in how to best utilize your particular skills to achieve your dreams. And, it's cute. And sweet. And, Neimann's art is achingly adorable.
The book offers a great lesson in how to best utilize your particular skills to achieve your dreams. And, it's cute. And sweet. And, Neimann's art is achingly adorable.
September 16, 2011
Cute and entertaining! The illustrations are great "retro" fun (I love that the police chief looks a lot like the Monopoly man!)
July 11, 2016
My kids thought this book was hilarious
January 26, 2020
Having dreamed of being a police officer since the time he was a tiny puff, the diaphanous hero of this sweet little picture-book is at first delighted when his friend, the police helicopter, convinces the chief to give him a job. But a series of disasters - the cloud inadvertently aids a burglar in his escape, causes a car accident, and ruins everyone's day at the park - leads to the heartbreaking realization that it is not to be. Fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining (sorry, couldn't resist!), and the tearful cloud discovers that another heroic occupation is open to him...
I don't know that I would ever have picked up Christoph Niemann's The Police Cloud, had I not seen it discussed in Leonard S. Marcus' article, "Back to the Future: Retro picture books — déjà vu all over again?" (to be found in the January/February 2010 edition of The Horn Book Magazine), where it is described as an example of the revival of the "Constructivist" style in picture-books. I'm glad I did, as I appreciate the message implicit in the story - that when one door closes, another opens - and thought the book was rather sweet. That said, I'm not sure I really see the "Constructivism" in it (the style seemed more reminiscent of the 1950s, to me), as clearly as in other examples Marcus cited, such as The Orange Book . Still, it's an interesting exercise, tracking down these titles, and seeing whether I can see what the critic has...
I don't know that I would ever have picked up Christoph Niemann's The Police Cloud, had I not seen it discussed in Leonard S. Marcus' article, "Back to the Future: Retro picture books — déjà vu all over again?" (to be found in the January/February 2010 edition of The Horn Book Magazine), where it is described as an example of the revival of the "Constructivist" style in picture-books. I'm glad I did, as I appreciate the message implicit in the story - that when one door closes, another opens - and thought the book was rather sweet. That said, I'm not sure I really see the "Constructivism" in it (the style seemed more reminiscent of the 1950s, to me), as clearly as in other examples Marcus cited, such as The Orange Book . Still, it's an interesting exercise, tracking down these titles, and seeing whether I can see what the critic has...
February 18, 2016
A great book to incorporate a craft with and introduce children to civil service jobs. Which job does the cloud do better? The book allows you to think about what you want to do versus what you could actually do better. We choose a job or task based on a variety of reasons. Graduate college with a degree in one field yet work in another. Sometimes it's ok to fail at one thing because it just proves it wasn't meant to be.
January 7, 2008
Simple, cute, with wonderful twist~
Want to read
August 12, 2008I want this book more than I've ever wanted a book.
February 2, 2013
cute story. cloud tries to help out, in the end, he is successful! simple clean pictures.
November 13, 2013
My newly-five-year-old son picked this book out from the library today. He thought the police cloud was a snowman.
The overall story/concept was fine. The text could have been stronger and "punchier". It didn't quite have that extra quality that makes books special to me.
The illustrations were adorable and strongly reminiscent of Dan Yaccarino's work, with a touch of Bob Staake's work thrown in. They didn't quite reach the level of Yaccarino or Staake, though.
I liked this book; I just didn't love this book.
(Actual rating would be 3.5 stars, but I round up.)
The overall story/concept was fine. The text could have been stronger and "punchier". It didn't quite have that extra quality that makes books special to me.
The illustrations were adorable and strongly reminiscent of Dan Yaccarino's work, with a touch of Bob Staake's work thrown in. They didn't quite reach the level of Yaccarino or Staake, though.
I liked this book; I just didn't love this book.
(Actual rating would be 3.5 stars, but I round up.)
October 17, 2008
The cloud's dream was always to become a police officer and one day his dream came true. But, being a cloud, he found out that being a police officer might not be the right job for him.
~~~~~~~~~~
This book has bright and very simple images along with simple text. It's a great read aloud book for younger audiences. The moral of the story: You may not get exactly what you want, but something better might come along.
~~~~~~~~~~
This book has bright and very simple images along with simple text. It's a great read aloud book for younger audiences. The moral of the story: You may not get exactly what you want, but something better might come along.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 8, 2008this book is great i recommend this to everyone
July 1, 2008
Yay! Well written and a great surprise ending. I am crazy picky about picture books and am often disappointed in them, but this was cute and good.
October 6, 2008
xoxoxo eeeeee!!!! hugs! xoxoxo mmmmeeeb! <3
most bestest book of 08! handz down
gasp! so. cute. it. hurts.
most bestest book of 08! handz down
gasp! so. cute. it. hurts.
Read
August 11, 2011cute childrens book.
August 6, 2012
Adorable.
June 26, 2014
Yes, everyone belongs somewhere. Well done, Police cloud!
November 24, 2015
Libby gravitated toward this one way more than I thought she would
February 9, 2019
This is a good book for students to show them to chase their dreams. It could also teach them the lesson that if something you really want doesn't work out, it is okay. You will find something that works for you and you need to make sure you are happy. I don't think this title is very good because it is deceiving. This is a good book though to teach a plot twist because of the title and how the book ends.
October 26, 2017
The illustrations in "The Police Cloud," are brightly colored and child friendly. Initially, I checked out the book because the front cover was cute.
The imaginative simple text did not disappoint. Woven through the plotline are positive messages any age can benefit from.
The imaginative simple text did not disappoint. Woven through the plotline are positive messages any age can benefit from.
January 21, 2018
I enjoyed this book. I felt it was funny, but also a lesson. The art was also great throughout this book. I also liked the message throughout the story. I would recommend this book to read to your children.
May 8, 2017
a cloud wants to be a police officer but when he's accepted in the force will the people accept him or is there a better job for him? Preschool and up for length.
June 26, 2023
All of my kids have loved this book. There's a great lesson in here for everyone!
October 12, 2017
Christoph Niemann is one of the people that I appreciate for his simplicity and indirectly directness.
But this book is boring. It does not provoke any thought. It's a children's book, but even children would get bored of the storyline.
Not recommended (unless if you wanna look at the pictures).
But this book is boring. It does not provoke any thought. It's a children's book, but even children would get bored of the storyline.
Not recommended (unless if you wanna look at the pictures).
April 8, 2008
A little cloud has always wanted to be a policeman. He goes to join the police force and tries lots of different kinds of police work, but none of them seem to be a good fit for a cloud. The cloud is so sad, he cries and it starts to rain. What kind of job can he do instead? This is a sweet story with some funny moments and cute illustrations. It went over really well with preschoolers at storytime.
June 27, 2014
There are a cloud who dream of being a police officer. He asks to his friend, police helicopter to get
a job in a police department.The police chief accepts to join him, but whenever he works, he makes a mistake. he is disappointed to him. During pouring his tears, somehouse began to burn. the cloud rescue his life. the fire department praises to him. Eventually he became a firefighter.
a job in a police department.The police chief accepts to join him, but whenever he works, he makes a mistake. he is disappointed to him. During pouring his tears, somehouse began to burn. the cloud rescue his life. the fire department praises to him. Eventually he became a firefighter.
March 24, 2023
Bringing this up to 4 stars after it was so well received in my preschool storytime today. The kids were very interested in the story and were able to tell me why things happened based on the pictures. Definitely one to use again.
January 12, 2010
liked the ending but not the journey. cloud's dream is becoming police...but he fails in three examples. ultimately, he becomes something else and all lis well.
August 2, 2012
A cute, easy read for kids. I suggest about a 2nd grade level.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews