My Red Balloon

K-Gr 3—A demure little girl wearing a red dress and clutching the string of a red balloon waits at a bus stop. She boards the large yellow bus, and off they go. At the next stop, she proudly shows her balloon to the new passenger, Bear, but panics when it blows away. The bus continues on its route following the balloon. At each stop, another animal boards to help with the search. Rabbit, Penguin, Elephant, and Giraffe direct the driver until at last they catch up with the errant balloon. Just as the trailing string is within their grasp, a passing bird pops the balloon. The girl's new friends cheer her up and they all pause to admire another huge red object in the sky as the sun sets over the ocean. Minimalist, collage-like illustrations accompany the succinct narrative in this philosophical story of friendship and determination. Muted primary colors and simple, geometric figures lend an innocent charm to the pictures. As young readers, page by page, become more invested in the search, they can help the distressed little girl by spotting the lost balloon hidden in the double-page landscapes. Pair this with another bus ride adventure, Kent Redeker's Don't Squish the Sasquatch (Disney-Hyperion, 2012).—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA