Set of Children's Books by John Cloud

Set of 3 Children's Books by local author and CityHeart boardmember John Cloud. A total of 5 sets have been donated for the purpose of this auction.

Author Biography:

John M. Cloud has been a practicing attorney with the Dayton law firm of Rogers & Greenberg for the last 44 years. Among his many interests outside of the practice of law is the writing of children’s books.

As a child, John loved having children’s books read to him by his parents, grandparents, and others; and as a result, has become an avid reader of books of all kinds (including reading children’s books to his children and grandchildren). Not only does he enjoy writing children’s books, but he has always been fascinated by the thought process that goes into writing a good children’s book.

Since 2013, John has written three children’s books, which he has enjoyed doing and has always had the benefit of excellent support, rapport, and talent with a skilled illustrator (the first of whom was a parish colleague and friend of his at Christ Episcopal Church by the name of Mary Adkins, and the second of whom was a University of Dayton Fine Arts graduate who is now an art teacher in the Beavercreek elementary school system). These three books are all primarily geared for children between the ages of 3 and 7. The plots of these books are as follows:

The Journey of Eric the Leaf

This is a ridiculous story about a love affair between a boy and a girl leaf sapling on a big tree located on a lake. The names of the leaves are “Eric” and “Feather,” and they fall in love while growing on different branches on the tree in the spring. Then to the dismay of both of them, Eric’s branch was snapped by a whiffle ball that hit it and he fell to the ground. The rest of the book then details young Eric’s adventures as he makes a trip around the lake through various modes of transportation until the late fall when he finally ends up being blown onto the lawn beneath the tree where he and Feather fell in love. The resplendent Feather has just herself landed on the lawn in the same place and their love affair resumes after a long hiatus.

The Underwater Adventures of Cassie Bass

This book relates the many kind and brave adventures of a young bass named “Cassie”, who with the help of her friends comes to the rescue of several fish and other creatures living in the same lake as hers. It is very skillfully and cleverly illustrated, and is a big favorite with both boys and girls of the target age.

The Brave Deeds of Cody Coyote

This cleverly illustrated book relates the courageous deeds of “Cody”, a young coyote in the north woods of Michigan (and his best friend, “Griffey”, the beagle pet of the family that rescues him), who gets separated from his mother as a newborn and gets rescued in the middle of the road on a rainy night by a family, who doesn’t even know what kind of animal they have just saved and who nurtures him until he is old enough to go out on his own and perform brave deeds. The ending to this book is particularly poignant.

John hopes that (like most people who have read them) you will enjoy reading them to your children, grandchildren, or yourselves. They all contain a very simple but valuable lesson.