The Cloudspotter

Tom McLaughlin’s sensitive stories and innovative illustration create lovely picture books for younger readers. In The Cloudspotter, Franklin enjoys the solitary activity of watching the beautiful clouds make displays in the sky. They aren’t just clouds to him – they’re adventures, and they stop him from feeling lonely. When a scruffy dog interrupts his adventure-spotting, Franklin isn’t keen. The dog is getting in his way and invading his cloud games. Maybe the scruffy dog is feeling lonely too, but can Franklin share his adventures with another Cloudspotter?

A cool palette and some inventive page layouts make this book look really fresh. While his earlier Bloomsbury title, The Story Machine, offered gentle encouragement for those children who lacked confidence in their writing ability, The Cloudspotter could speak to those who are less confident in social situations. Both stories champion creativity and imagination and their beautiful design is a testament to their message.