High in the Clouds

View other editions of High in the Clouds.
View books by Paul McCartney, Philip Ardagh.

In Spite of All the Danger... - Rated
These three highly talented peole, the Messrs. McCartney, Dunbar and Ardagh have created a delightful tale about good emerging triumphant. Paul McCartney, an avid fan of Disney, worked with Dunbar on a movie. This book is the fruit of artistic labor.

Wirral, a squirrel who shares his name with a place in England, is a happy little creature whose mother, Sugartail regales him with stories. Sugartail reels in other listeners, such as the redoubtable Froggo, who stops and drops in from his helium balloon. Wirral equates the forest to Eden and pities those who live in Megatropolis, a large, bustling city.

Gretch (also the brand name of a guitar) decides to expand the city by demolishing parts of the forest. The woodland creatures run for cover. Sugartail, like Bambi Deer's mother before her, is a casualty of human greed and exploitation. She dies in the forest, pinned under a bulldozer. Her final words were to implore Wirral to find Animalia, the safe place for all animals.

Devastated at becoming orphaned, Wirral heads for the big city. He meets Wilhamina, a high spirited red squirrel, a delightful little spit fire and Ratsy, a street savvy rodent who is quite oppidian in his tastes. The animals finally meet Gretch, the one responsible for the destruction of their forest.

Wirral feels he has the ultimate plan to save the animals and get them to Animalia. As the Beatles said in "She Loves You," their 1963 classic, "you know it's up to you/I think it's only fair..." It is up to Wirral to see this plan through.

A truly delightful story that is sure to bring smiles to faces of all ages. A fun little allegory that is good for families and classes. The song "All Together Now" seems to underscore this story.

A TOUCHING, ADVENTURE FILLED TALE - Rated
Who doesn't root for the good guys and love to see them win? Such a scenario becomes irresistible when presented by the talented trio of Paul McCartney, Geoff Dunbar, and Philip Ardagh. We understand that seeds for this book were planted when McCartney and Dunbar worked together on a film. Whatever the genesis, "High In The Clouds" is a sure winner.

Our hero is Wirral, a happy squirrel who lives in Woodland and delights in listening to his mother's stories. Mom is Sugartail, an enchanting storyteller who captivates creatures with her words. Even Froggo listens, popping in from time to time in his hot-air balloon. Yes, life couldn't get much better for Wirral decides as he glances at nearby Megatropolis, a big ugly city. Woodland is Eden to him.

Unfortunately there's trouble in Eden when Gretsch annexes Woodland and dispatches bulldozers "a nightmare of noise and destruction." The animals run in all directions, trying to escape the holocaust. Sadly, Sugartail is pinned beneath a huge tree. Her last words to Wirral are that he must find Animalia, a sanctuary where all the animals can live in freedom and safety.

A disconsolate Wirral doesn't know what to do, so he heads for Megatropolis. It is there that he meets and befriends Wilhamina, a feisty red squirrel and Ratsy, a rodent (of course) who knows his way around city streets. He even meets the evil Gretsch who destroyed his beloved Woodlands.

Out of his despair comes a plan - Wirral determines to save all animals. But, how can this be done? Therein lies this touching, adventure filled tale.

- Gail Cooke