Goodbye, Balloon

"When a child’s beloved balloon is whipped away by a gust of wind, the youngster reveals an intriguing coping mechanism. In this tale translated from Dutch, the light-skinned, brown-haired narrator, who is barefoot and wears a simple ochre tunic, declares that the balloon makes them happy—it even feels magical. So readers understand the child’s feelings when the pale, reddish balloon—formerly tied to the child’s bicycle—sails out of reach. After shouting goodbye and wishing the balloon a “fantastic adventure,” the child closes their eyes and imagines themself soaring with the balloon, so high that “the kites must be jealous.” In a series of whimsical scenes, child and balloon travel over mountains and a lake, through a desert, and into outer space. Especially exhilarating: a moment when the youngster flies with pink flamingos. When menacing weather arises, the child says, “My balloon and I are brave. Flying out of the darkness I feel proud.” The captivating watercolor and colored pencil artwork—even more interesting because the textured paper shows beneath—brings the protagonist’s fantasies to life. The careful wording and lovely ending—in which the narrator pictures the balloon finding a new friend, a brown-skinned girl—evoke the best of guided imagery meditation and will speak to young readers coping with sorrow. No one should wait for a child to experience loss before sharing this wise, gentle book. Well-played grief counseling." - Kirkus Reviews

"A young girl ties her glittery pink balloon to her bicycle, but it is quickly taken by the wind. Instead of that being the end of the story, however, she begins to think of what adventures her balloon might be experiencing, and to demonstrate the balloon's change, from then on it is drawn as a clear, somewhat ethereal outline. In her imagination, the girl and balloon ride the wind into the mountains and then even up to the stars beyond. When a storm brings darkness, bravery sees them through. While the book is not subtle in its messaging, its gentle tone and soft colors extend the feeling of comfort. Phrases such as “enjoying every possible moment” and “follow our hearts to find the right direction” underscore the book’s bibliotherapeutic purpose. Eventually, the girl knows she must let go of the balloon, but she likes to think of it as happy and having a new friend to love. For young children coping with loss or grief, the book provides an opening for discussion." - Booklist

Featured on The Children's Book Council's March Hot Off the Press!