Balloon - by Bruce Handy (Hardcover)

About the Book

When a young boy accidentally lets go of his orange balloon, he begins to see round, orange objects everywhere, including an unexpected one he gets to take home.

Book Synopsis

A sweet and engaging seek-and-find story that follows the ups and downs of a lost balloon.What's better than holding onto a brand-new bright orange balloon?

Oh no! What's worse than accidentally letting go of a bright orange balloon and watching it float up . . . up . . . up into the sky?

In this nearly wordless book, sharp-eyed readers will spot something orange and round in every scene as they join an endearing journey from disappointment to hope to a surprise ending better than they could have imagined. A balloon, seek-and-find play, and a (literally) warm-and-fuzzy ending--who could ask for more?

GENTLE STORY: The world is a noisy and busy place. This warm and welcoming picture book is just right for when children (and parents) just want to relax with a sweet story in a familiar setting with relatable characters. Its gentle message of resilience and optimism shines.

ENGAGING READING EXPERIENCE: Within its quiet framework, there is ample room for active engagement--searching each scene for the lost balloon, finding the humorous moments and small side stories, and guessing what might happen next.

WORDLESS BOOKS: For early learners and emerging readers, wordless picture books are wonderful for expanding their imaginations, and becoming more active readers.

Perfect for:

• Young readers who enjoy seek-and-find books
• Parents, grandparents, and caregivers
• Teachers and librarians seeking wordless picture books to share
• Gift-giving for birthday, baby shower, or holiday
• Fans of picture books like Hot Dog, Every Little Kindness, and Bruce Handy's What If One Day...

Review Quotes

A Bank Street Best Book of the Year

Featured on NPR Picture This

A Pennsylvania Baker's Dozen List: Thirteen Best Books for Family Literacy Selection

"light and sunny" -- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"A heartwarming tale that will thoroughly engage readers and leave them completely satisfied at the its conclusion." -- Starred Review, School Library Journal

"Handy has nimbly blended a sweet story tailor-made for the tenderhearted with a Where's Waldo?-esque activity suited to more fidgety types." -- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"This nearly wordless picture book captures some of life's simplest joys... Multiple reads are a must." ---- Booklist

About the Author

Bruce Handy is the author of The Happiness of a Dog with a Ball in Its Mouth and What If One Day..., both New York Times Best Children's Books of the Year. He also writes articles and books for grown-ups, including Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult and Hollywood High, a history of teen movies. He lives in New York.

Julie Kwon is an illustrator based in New York. She is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University and has created work for both book publishers and animation companies, including Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Little Brown, Levine Querido, and Cartoon Network.