Ploof

July 15, 2023
A lonely little cloud named Ploof needs your help. This interactive picture book directly addresses children, encouraging participation with Ploof. When Ploof is feeling shy, readers are told to clap for encouragement. Similarly, when the cloud "runs...out of steam," readers are asked to "blow softly on Ploof" to "puff Ploof back up." The illustrations are simple and clear. For the most part, the recto of each spread includes text set against a white background, while the verso depicts the cloud against a soft, sky-blue background--an effect that focuses readers' attention on Ploof. This little white cotton ball of a cloud has an expressive face and large, oval-shaped eyes, used to great effect to convey Ploof's shyness, weariness, and worry. The seek-and-find pages might be the most fun; readers must spot Ploof, who's hiding among a field of sheep and in a sky full of kites. Interactive books like this are popular for a reason, and this one fits the mold rather than breaking it. Adults and caregivers looking for a sweet, reader-facing read-aloud will be satisfied with this one; those seeking something nonformulaic need to look elsewhere. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Fluffy and fun, as expected. (Picture book. 2-5)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 11, 2023
In this interactive picture book, Clanton and Chou Musser give readers a chance to practice empathic responses through engagement with an emotive cloud named Ploof. “This is Ploof. Ploof is feeling lonely. Can you say hello?” beginning lines encourage, and a page turn reveals that “Yay! Ploof is happy to see you.” Other prompts request help in supporting Ploof through a momentary bout of shyness and in cheering the cloud when its raindrop-like tears start to fall. As the playful cloud morphs shapes, amid other activities, it emits phrases including “Oof!” and “Whoosh!” Following a playful game of hide-and-go-seek, the literary playdate comes to a close with a high-five, a wave, and a hug. “Thanks for being such a fantastic friend,” the narrator models. Powdered graphite, eraser, and pencil artwork employs sky-blue digital coloring in this friendly volume that makes social interaction look easy. Ages 2–5.

August 25, 2023

PreS-Gr 2-Children fond of interacting physically with their books will enjoy playing with Ploof-a small, ungendered white cloud with great big eyes-who, if properly asked and encouraged, can change shape with page turns to a star or all sorts of animals, be freed from an entangling tree with a shake, and go for rounds of seek and find by blending in with a crowd of kites or a herd of woolly sheep. "Oh! Yes! There! You're great at spotting." And if blowing too hard to plump up and move Ploof around runs a risk of some unsanitary spitting, a congratulatory high five slap, no matter how vigorously delivered, shouldn't do much damage. Better yet, a goodbye wave and then a hug at the end offers both a sense of resolution and a gentle way to close the book. A very simple, low-key alternative to Herv� Tullet's Press Here and its higher energy ilk. VERDICT A mix of hands on and potentially more distant interactions make this most suitable for sharing with the smallest of groups or individual audiences.-John Edward Peters

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2023
Preschool-Grade 1 This interactive picture book featuring a cute cloud is a cross between Charles Green Shaw's It Looked like Spilt Milk and Christie Matheson's Tap the Magic Tree. Throughout the story, Ploof the cloud displays a range of emotions--from happy to shy, excited to scared--as it changes shapes (e.g., star, Swiss cheese, submarine). Child readers will be invited to say hello, clap, make a silly face, blow, high-five, hug, and play hide-and-seek before waving goodbye to Ploof at the end. The simple, cartoonlike illustrations--done in powdered graphite, erasers, and pencil and colored digitally--keep the reader's focus on the cloud's eyes and expressions. The text is presented in a clear, easy-to-read font and offers encouraging ""feedback"" to children for successfully responding. Great for both storytime and one-on-one reading, engaging young children with simple actions and giving opportunities to identify many shapes and feelings. Recommended for all picture-book collections.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.