Have you read The Red Balloon book written by Albert Lamorisse? Maybe you’ve seen The Red Balloon movie? The Academy Award-winning film is in black and white and set in Paris with, well, a red balloon. Sound familiar? The book uses black and white photographs with pops of color on only a few pages. The story is about a boy who becomes best friends with a magical red balloon. The movie has zero audible words — the book has many words!
I love flipping through the book and telling my parents the story. This book was a Christmas present from my dad. It was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. I really like how the whole story is like a mystery. Why is the balloon following the little boy? Why can’t he take the bus on the balloon? How does the balloon know to stay put? How come the balloon doesn’t pop? Where are they going? On every page I had a new question.
Later in the book (and the film) some not very nice boys try to take the balloon that isn’t theirs. I thought this part was scary. Mom thought this book would be great in classrooms as a way to start a conversation about right and wrong and bullying among kids.
I don’t want to give the book away if you haven’t read it, but I really like how the balloon friends come together and the surprise they have in store for the boy.
The boy and the red balloon book should really be on everyone’s bookshelf. It’s a great story about unexpected friendships. If you love balloons as much as I do, you’re going to love this red balloon book.
Buy the Book on Amazon or Buy the Book on BookShop
…
THE RED BALLOON BOOK ACTIVITIES
Dot to Dot Balloon — Print this free dot-to-dot balloon and connect the dots; after color your balloon red to be just like the one in the book, The Red Balloon.
Balloon Math – Color or check the balloons to help you solve the preschool math problem on this counting worksheet.
Match the letters – Look at the letters in each balloon and draw a string to match the upper case letter inside the balloon to the lower case letter in each child’s outfit.
Kids Balloon Activity – Blow up a balloon, toss it in the air, and clap your hands twice then toss your balloon again. Repeat — each time count more claps and/or create a pattern with this easy and fun kids balloon game.
Make a Balloon Card– Follow this easy video tutorial for a DIY balloon card that’s easy and very colorful!
TALKING POINTS FOR RED BALLOON BOOK:
- What was your favorite part of The Red Balloon?
- What did you think when the boy wasn’t able to get on the bus with the balloon?
- Were you surprised the red balloon waited for the boy after school?
- How did you feel when the boy’s mom removes the balloon?
- Did you wonder where the red balloon and the boy were going in the different pages?
- What did you think about the group of boys that try to take the balloon?
- Has anyone ever tried to take anything away from you? Tell me about it.
- What did you think when you saw many balloons come together?
- Have you ever had your friends come together to support you? Tell me about it.
- Is there anything that you didn’t understand in this book?
- Is there anything specific about The Red Balloon book you’d like to talk about?
USEFUL INFO FOR GROWNUPS
- Book: The Red Balloon Book
- Written by: Albert Lamorisse
- Age Range: 3 to 7
- Paperback edition: 48 pages
- Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition (May 3, 2016)
- ISBN-13 : 978-1101935217
Hope you love The Red Balloon book as much as I do!
