A Balloon for Grandad

by Nigel Gray, Jane E. Ray (Illustrator)

Unhappy when he loses his silver and red balloon, Sam is comforted by imagining it on its way to visit his grandfather in Egypt.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Chantal]

A story about a balloon that a boy lost. I have to say the story was already over before it started and I am still surprised what happened? Could have been so much more or something magical.

This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.

[Mathew]

When Sam's balloon escapes the confines of the house and flies off into the sky, he is distraught but his father soon weaves a descriptive narrative of the balloon's journey through different landscapes and we see, through either his eye of Sam's, vivid and beautiful places illustrated by Jane Ray. Over mountains, deserts and oceans up we finally arrive at an island where Sam's grandfather, Abdulla lives. This is a story about family connections across place and culture all celebrated through Gray's narrative and Ray's beautiful illustrations. This is not a story of loss but one celebrating diversity and a loving union that crosses oceans.

[میم صالحی فر]

عنوان ترجمه فارسی: بادکنکی برای پدربزرگ
انتشارات سروش، 1384
که از کتاب فرانسه تحت عنوان un ballon paur grand-pere به فارسی ترجمه شده (به نقل از خود کتاب)
داستان در مورد بادکنک پسرکی به نام سامی است، بادکنکی که از در خانه بیرون میره و باد اونو میبره درحالیکه که سامی ناراحت شده و بادکنک میره تا...میرسه به دست پدربزرگش عبدالله که در جزیره ای زندگی میکنه و بادکنک رو هدیه ای از جانب نوه اش میدونه و اون رو یاد سامی می‌اندازه.سامی هم دیگه از اینکه بادکنکش رفته ناراحت نیست و خوشحاله که داره میره پیش بدربزرگش و به قول کتاب از اینجا فرار کرده!
تصویرگری کتاب هم زیباست و تصاویر جذابی از محله و طبیعت و شهر سامی و پدربزرگش رو میبینیم

[Kristal]

Mistakenly, a child’s balloon gets out of his house and floats off into the sky, so his Dad comforts him by imagining it will reach his grandad who lives off in another country. Such a sweet way of comforting a boy. I really likely the illustrations, especially the colourful border that repeats throughout the book in many ways.

[Robin West]

Why Do parents continue to lie to their kids in books? When He grows up and learns anything he will know his parents are liars. There is no way that balloon made it out of town let alone across the ocean and desert. Boo Boo let your kid be sad. Sadness is a normal feeling.

[SJP]

A nice journey around the world that explores long distance families and different landscapes. Based on a true story it encourages the reader to write/reach out to their grandparents which could be a nice activity.

[Esther]

This story about the journey of Sam's lost balloon to his Grandad, evokes feelings of adventure and love. There is so much within this book which could be used within the classroom. In English, lots of langauge devices could be explored through this book; use of similie, adverbs, personification of wind, alliteration, sibilance. The artwork is also really unique and beautiful, and there is huge potential to use just one page for an art lesson or even a unit. You could discuss the use of pattern in borders, and why the illustrator has chosen to have a border. Also, the use of colours in sea scene are particularly striking and effective. You could discuss impact of using more than one colour for one area; builds intensity, gives depth (perfect for portraying the sea!) Light and shade presented in the desert, and could explore using a light source within a piece of art to create areas of brightness and of shadow. There is also a thread of family, and acceptance throughout this story. The Grandad has a completely different lifestyle to the child, and this is treasured. This is an important message in our multicultural society in England.

[Ellee]

I really hope I remember this story when my little boys lose their first balloon outside! Such a cute story - especially when you have a little fellow in your life that you can picture being distraught over losing such a nice balloon.

Definitely recommended for up to 2nd grade, especially for families who live a fairly long distance from some of their relatives. :)

[Janelle]

What an imaginative way to reframe a lost balloon - sending it on an adventurous journey to a faraway loved one. Since Beckett doesn't see his grandparents very often I can see us reading this as a way to feel closer to them, I just hope he doesn't want to let balloons go on purpose, that's not good for the wildlife :)

[Linda]

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL10766...