The Lost (and Found) Balloon

by Celeste Jenkins, Maria Bogade (Illustrations)

Where do balloons go when you let them loose? Find out in this whimsical, imaginative tale, winner of the General Mills Spoonful of Stories contest.

Molly O’Doon ties a note to her red balloon, lets it loose, and off it goes on a buoyant adventure. Who will answer Molly’s letter? Someone in a different state or a faraway country? Or maybe, a new friend much closer than she could ever imagine.

The Lost (and Found) Balloon is the winner of the 5th annual Cheerios® New Author Contest. Selected from more than 8,000 entries by a team of editors, teachers, librarians, and General Mills staff, The Lost (and Found) Balloon will also appear in a bilingual (English/Spanish) mini-paperback edition in 1.5 million specially marked boxes of Cheerios.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it's the environmentalist in me, but I was bothered that the girl released a balloon into the atmosphere (where it sailed over the ocean, no less) since loose balloons suffocate marine life that mistake a deflated balloon for jellyfish or squid that could be eaten. Still, I liked the book otherwise and the clever twist at the end will delight younger readers.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl releases a balloon to see where it will go (shhh....don't tell the tree huggers). Up and up the balloon flies. Follow it to see where it lands in this beautiful picture book. Fairly short, and my toddler likes pointing out the red balloon on each page. A sweet story, and one I"d read again.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly O'Doon ties a note to the end of the string on a red shiny balloon and let it float away. The balloon takes an adventurous flight up and away. When it finally lands and the note is read, friendships are made.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting perspective as the baloon flies higher and higher. makes the kids want to turn the page and see whats next

[Justin Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet tale about how messages can travel the world, like a message in a bottle for any amount of time, and get found by someone closer than you think or know.

[Nanny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the rhyming story and the illustrations.

[Summer Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and fun book for young children (especially those who have recently moved to a new neighborhood, or whose friend recently moved away). A lovely story about finding friendship told through poetry and beautiful artwork.
The illustrations are partial, some parts of drawings intentionally remain black and white, which guides our eyes and directs our attention to more important parts of the illustrations. The illustrations appeal to the eye through a mainly red and blue palate.
The bouncing aab, ccb pattern at the beginning, and end, of the story mimics the bouncing and bumping of a balloon in the hands of a child. While the aabbcc... pattern in the middle of the story feels more like a balloon floating and gliding through the air, mirroring the movement of the balloon Molly sends off.
The circular form of the book brings Molly's balloon down to another little girl. But, as a twist, the balloon floats down, after a whole night, right next door to where Molly lives with an invitation for a new friend.

[Joanne G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LOST (AND FOUND) BALLOON by Celeste Jenkins was a delightful book! I write children's books also and love to read books by others writers. It is evident why Celeste won the 2011 Cheerios Spoonsful of Stories contest. Her story has a happy rhythm and rhyme that children will want to hear over and over. Many children have experienced releasing a balloon into the air (sometimes by choice - sometimes not!) and wondering where that balloon finally landed. This story has a feel-good ending that is appropriate for preschool and primary-aged children. I will enjoy reading it to young children again and again. Congratulations, Celeste, on your award and I hope your book does well in the marketplace and delights millions of children in the years to come! Joanne Midyette :)

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 3 1/2 for me! I liked it quite a bit and I liked the thought that a balloon could bring people on the same street together..(It would have been more amazing if the person found the note in another city or state oh well) I love the imagery. Instead of it saying going "Up UP UP" or "DOWN,DOWN,DOWN" the Ascent "Each Shrinking house, small like a mouse, Fields into rugs, cows into bugs" and the end 'Dots into ducks, Ants into trucks" for the descent. This is a good one and I recommend it!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book won the General Mills Spoonful of Stories contest and was published last year. Have you ever “lost” a helium-filled balloon and imagined where it might end up? That is what a young girl names “Molly O-Doon dreams about. Through poetic text, the story of the balloon traveling is told, finally ending up… Sorry I won’t tell. The illustrations are sweet especially when it’s night and the balloon travels across moonlit water.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagining what happens to a balloon as it floats away into the sky is something every child has wondered. This picture book imagines the balloon going higher and higher as the sounds become quieter and the objects smaller. As the balloon floats back down, the sounds get louder and the objects bigger. The ending wraps up the balloon's travels with a new friendship, though some might have wanted the balloon to travel farther from home.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another adorable book about gaining friendship. I thought the writer was very inventive with the idea of the main character sending a letter by balloon in an adventure to find anyone to be her friend. I will not spoil the ending for you, but I also like that this is a poem as well. This book would be another wonderful addition to poetry lessons and types that can be introduced to your students.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet tale of a balloon carrying a note that doesn't end up journeying very far to make a big impact.

This story reminded me of when I was a child and our school had a balloon release. The eager anticipation of a letter or card that might be sent from the individual who found the balloon with my note. Absolutely loved the illustrations as well, simple yet beautiful.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to win this sweet childrens book on First Reads. It's a fun little story about a balloon that takes a journey. Kids are always fascinated with balloons and this balloon shows kids maybe where it goes when it gets released up in the air. Very good illustrations too.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: K-2nd grade
Toys: Balloon
Familiar Experience: Moving

Will this traveling balloon connect two strangers? Molly ties a note full of curiosity to a stranger far, far away. We follow the balloon as it travels what we think is the world, only to end up a few doors down.

[Kaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this wonderful story! Fabulous illustrations, a sweet story, and a surprise twist ending. One of my favorites of the season! I can't wait to sell this one!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! We loved the ending! I got mine in a box of Cheerios cereal (it won the contest) but I see it will be available to buy this June!

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually surprised by ending--cute, but I'd have liked it more if it didn't rhyme.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rhyming book. I love books that rhyme. Cute story about a traveling balloon and making new friends.

[Jennifer]

I wish this one didn't rhyme... Why do all of the Cheerios contest winners have to rhyme??

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story with fun pictures.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, beautifully written and illustrated book.

[Airaseem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute book about a balloon. Very great illustrations. Good story for kids.

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darling!