In The Clouds Above, Jordan Crane has composed a charming tale about a small boy named Simon and his long-tailed cat, Jack. Simon is chronically late to school, and one day, he escapes the notice of the teacher and ends up on the roof, where he finds a stairway to the clouds. Simon and his cat climb the stairs, meeting birds and sentient clouds. They spend the day having various and sundry exciting adventures in the world above the clouds–until it’s finally time to go back to school. Jordan Crane drew The Clouds Above in a panel-a-page style, so that it in many ways resembles a very long (216 page) picture book. This, and the simplicity of the art and storyline, makes this book a perfect introduction to comics for younger children. The Clouds Above reads like a combination of Louis Sachar’s Wayside School stories and Windsor McKay’s Little Nemo –it’s a fun and fantastical book for children and adults alike.
The Clouds Above
by Jordon Crane
ISBN: 9781560976271
Fantagraphics, 2005
