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Bella and the Lost Ball
One lost ball. And so many adjectives to describe it . . .
Wanted: a beautiful ball. What does it look like? How many adjectives will Bella need to describe her ball, so that her friends can visualize it properly and help her find it? And will she even succeed?
The sun is lovely and warm, so Bella runs outside to play with her ball. But where has it rolled to? With the help of a butterfly, Mitzi the cat, Ally the dog and an inquisitive bunny hopping around the garden, will Bella be able to find it?
Wanted: a beautiful ball. What does it look like? How many adjectives will Bella need to describe her ball, so that her friends can visualize it properly and help her find it? And will she even succeed?
The sun is lovely and warm, so Bella runs outside to play with her ball. But where has it rolled to? With the help of a butterfly, Mitzi the cat, Ally the dog and an inquisitive bunny hopping around the garden, will Bella be able to find it?
- GenresPicture BooksAnimals
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 4, 2022
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 13, 2023
Bella has lost her favorite ball. She asks the animals for help, and tries to describe the ball to them so they can help her find it. The bird has seen something beautiful, but it is not Bella's ball. The butterfly has seen something red, but it is not Bella's ball. The cat has seen something round, but... nope. The dog has seen something with dots on it, but it's no use. Bella has to continue the search to remember where she left her ball.
This is such a cute story! I love the repetitiveness as Bella asks the different animals whether they have seen her ball, adding another descriptive term each time. And it's so funny to see all the mistaken things they lead her to as they try to find something that matches her description. Adorable!
I love the beautiful illustrations! Every page is so colorful and bright with whimsical animal characters. I love the flowing lines of the artwork. I love that Bella's hair is wild and windblown. I love the cute designs of the animals and the beautiful country setting all around Bella's house.
The only thing that I thought was strange about this book was the size of the dog. The other animals have normal proportions, and then there is this huge dog that appears to be five feet tall! Bella is completely dwarfed by this massive dog, and she evens rides on his back! Assuming that Bella is about 6-7 years old and probably around 3 feet tall, then the dog has to be between 5-6 feet tall with all four paws on the ground, not even jumping up on its hindlegs. I'm just so confused by this weird dog! haha!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
This is such a cute story! I love the repetitiveness as Bella asks the different animals whether they have seen her ball, adding another descriptive term each time. And it's so funny to see all the mistaken things they lead her to as they try to find something that matches her description. Adorable!
I love the beautiful illustrations! Every page is so colorful and bright with whimsical animal characters. I love the flowing lines of the artwork. I love that Bella's hair is wild and windblown. I love the cute designs of the animals and the beautiful country setting all around Bella's house.
The only thing that I thought was strange about this book was the size of the dog. The other animals have normal proportions, and then there is this huge dog that appears to be five feet tall! Bella is completely dwarfed by this massive dog, and she evens rides on his back! Assuming that Bella is about 6-7 years old and probably around 3 feet tall, then the dog has to be between 5-6 feet tall with all four paws on the ground, not even jumping up on its hindlegs. I'm just so confused by this weird dog! haha!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
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December 22, 2022See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/bella-...
BELLA AND THE LOST BALL is a sweet story about searching for something lost. Bella wakes up on a nice morning and wants to play with her ball. However, she cannot find it anywhere. She asks a bird for help, telling the bird that it is something beautiful. The bird shows her the beautiful thing it has seen - but it is a yellow flower. Bella points out that her ball is red, so she sets off again. As she encounters different animals, they help her to find things that suit the characteristics she is searching for, but unfortunately none of them is her ball. Finally, Bella thinks about where she last saw it, and then she remembers where it is and finds her ball!
What I loved: This is a very cute story with a topic little ones will recognize - the search for a lost toy! Bella is learning how to describe her ball as well as the things around her house that also match the description. As she narrows it down by adding descriptors, children will begin to understand the importance of specificity as well as the many traits that one item can have. The discussions with animals were really cute and added some fun throughout.
The illustrations are lovely and bring the story to life throughout with the adorable Bella and animals appearing on each page. The message around how to find things you have lost is also helpful, as children may think back to where they last played with the toys they are missing.
What left me wanting more: As a small thing, the text on each page is a bit small which can be challenging to read at times for caregivers. The book is also a bit lengthy on some pages, which will work better for preschoolers and up rather than toddlers or readers who need the pages to turn quickly.
Final verdict: BELLA AND THE BALL is an adorably fun story about searching for a lost toy that will resonate with young readers.
BELLA AND THE LOST BALL is a sweet story about searching for something lost. Bella wakes up on a nice morning and wants to play with her ball. However, she cannot find it anywhere. She asks a bird for help, telling the bird that it is something beautiful. The bird shows her the beautiful thing it has seen - but it is a yellow flower. Bella points out that her ball is red, so she sets off again. As she encounters different animals, they help her to find things that suit the characteristics she is searching for, but unfortunately none of them is her ball. Finally, Bella thinks about where she last saw it, and then she remembers where it is and finds her ball!
What I loved: This is a very cute story with a topic little ones will recognize - the search for a lost toy! Bella is learning how to describe her ball as well as the things around her house that also match the description. As she narrows it down by adding descriptors, children will begin to understand the importance of specificity as well as the many traits that one item can have. The discussions with animals were really cute and added some fun throughout.
The illustrations are lovely and bring the story to life throughout with the adorable Bella and animals appearing on each page. The message around how to find things you have lost is also helpful, as children may think back to where they last played with the toys they are missing.
What left me wanting more: As a small thing, the text on each page is a bit small which can be challenging to read at times for caregivers. The book is also a bit lengthy on some pages, which will work better for preschoolers and up rather than toddlers or readers who need the pages to turn quickly.
Final verdict: BELLA AND THE BALL is an adorably fun story about searching for a lost toy that will resonate with young readers.
October 29, 2022
Many young readers will be able to relate to the plight of Bella, the protagonist of this short picture book. Since it's the perfect day to spend time outdoors, she decides to play with her red and white ball. But she is unable to find her toy no matter where she looks inside her room. Various animals, including a bird, a bunny, and a dog, reach out to offer assistance, but her descriptions of the missing object leave something to be desired and lead her on a wild goose chase. If ever there were a need for more precision in description, it would be now since something that is "really, really beautiful" (unpaged) or "red" (unpaged), can describe many objects or living things. Although the animals all try to help Bella, in the end she is in the one who finally remembers where she left it the last time she was playing with the ball. The use of repetitive language and suspense as well as adjectives might make this picture book useful in reading practice, comprehension, prediction, and even a writing activity. The colors used in the artwork are appealing, but some of the characters, especially Bella's mother, look a bit wooden, which I found off putting.
September 12, 2022
Well, this was a pleasant little read, for all the upset the lead character goes through, but what the point of it all was I remain unconvinced. Bella has lost her ball (which you kind of knew anyway), and so goes throughout the neighbourhood asking all the critters whether they've seen it. When she says it's pretty a bird points to a flower, when she says it's pretty and red a butterfly shows her something else, and so on. So I'm left thinking it's about being accurate – she can never find her ball if she doesn't describe it fully – but it's still a peculiar attempt to convey that lesson. And how can a dog of all things get it wrong for Bella? Visually it's wonderful, but yes – the meaning is hazy.
Want to Read
August 24, 2022Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews