A Balloon for Grandad

balloon

 

Booklist Editors’ Choice, USA

ANSCC/CBS Notable Children’s Book, USA

Library of Congress ‘Books for Children’ choice, USA

Children’s Book Foundation Book of the Year, UK

Runner-up for the Mother Goose Award, UK

Featured in 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

Orchard, Australia

Collins, Australia

Orchard Books, UK

Collins, UK

large format pb, Oliver & Boyd, UK

Orchard, USA

Centurion, France

Switzerland

Intermon, Spain (Spanish)

Intermon, Spain (Catalan)

Sesame Street, USA

Harcourt Brace Reading programme, USA

Letterbox Library Bookclub, UK

Scholastic Bookclub, UK

Scholastic, UK (cassette)

 

A multicultural story of extended-family love. One of childhood’s most common minor tragedies is converted into an imaginative adventure. A Balloon for Grandad follows the flight of an escaped balloon over a variety of landscapes – forests, deserts, mountains, and oceans – in its journey from Sam’s home to his grandad’s house on an island in a river in Africa.

 

A wonderful book full of colourful language and imagery. An exciting and inspiring experience. Five to Eleven Magazine

 

Beautifully presented and filled with genuine feeling. A lovely confidence builder. Carousel

 

A classic that shows the variety and richness of the Earth and its people. Review Round up

 

It won my heart. Bookland

 

The lilting, evocative text will charm young listeners. Heart-warming. Booklist

 

Adults and children alike will appreciate the surprising treatment of what seems to be, at first, a loss. Publishers weekly

 

A nicely cadenced story. A satisfying picture book. The Kirkus Review

 

Young readers will be well entertained by this colourful and affectionate picture book where the world is made to seem both small and also infinitely various, containing as much exotic detail as any infant could ever imagine. Books for your Children

 

Nigel Gray’s lyrical text makes this book a real pleasure. The Reading Teacher

 

A stunning picture book. Letterbox Library

 

A delightful book. Contact

 

A tender, loving story. A charming picture book. Bend Reviews

 

Highly recommended. Madison Metropolitan

 

Sensitively told. Multicultural Guide to Children’s books