Emily's Balloon: Komako Sakai: 9780811852197: Amazon.com: Books

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Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2006 | Age Range: 1 and up

One day, Emily gets a balloon. By the end of the afternoon, the balloon is no longer just a plaything. Emily and the balloon are friends. But when the balloon blows away, what will Emily do? The beautifully evocative illustrations and the timeless innocence of the story make this deceptively simple book a sure classicsweet, compelling, and filled with the wonder and discovery of friendship.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } One day, Emily gets a balloon. By the end of the afternoon, the balloon is no longer just a plaything. Emily and the balloon are friends. But when the balloon blows away, what will Emily do? The beautifully evocative illustrations and the timeless innocence of the story make this deceptively simple book a sure classicsweet, compelling, and filled with the wonder and discovery of friendship.

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS-While out for a walk, Emily's mother buys a yellow helium-filled balloon, which she ties to her daughter's finger for safekeeping. Once home, she attaches the string to Emily's spoon so the new plaything will float within the child's reach. The child plays with her toy in the house and garden, and when a breeze blows it into a tree, she is heartbroken. After her mother promises to retrieve the wayward balloon in the morning, Emily must be content to observe her portly friend safe in the tree, glowing like the moon and watching over her. The yellow balloon and its blue string stand out in a simple color palette of white, gray, and tan with a few accents of red. The illustrations, rendered in watercolor and charcoal, are placed on tan pages and surrounded by unadorned thin, round-edged black frames. A tale of a common childhood experience, tenderly and sweetly told.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
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Review

"A tale of a common childhood experience, tenderly and sweetly told." - School Library Journal

"The brevity of text combined with relatively simple illustrations make this tale perfectly suited to a toddler's interest, working well for either cozy shared storytime or for larger groups during read-aloud sessions." -Kirkus Reviews

"With its soft charcoal outlines, three-color images and matte pages, Japanese author-artist Sakai's book looks as if it could have been published in the early '60s, yet her theme is timeless. The measured pacing of the text and roomy spreads evoke a more leisurely era. Emily, a toddler with short hair and gray overalls, has trouble holding onto her yellow helium-filled balloon, until her mother (who wears a skirt and high heels) wisely ties it to a spoon ("Look! It floats, but it doesn't fly away!"). Emily and the balloon share a happy afternoon in the garden, picking flowers and making matching leafy crowns, until a gust blows the balloon up into a tree, and it stays there. "We wanted to eat together," the text reads, as Emily sits at the table in tears, imagining supper and then bedtime with her new friend. Sakai smoothly moves from Emily's thoughts to her words, always keeping readers in the heroine's mindset. Tucked into bed, Emily finds she can see the balloon from her window: "There it was, nestled in the tree. It looked just like the moon." Sakai's quiet voice represents loss as small children experience it: sometimes, she seems to say, although we can't have what we love close to us, they are still there-just like the moon. A dog-eared favorite in the making." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

"One afternoon, Emily got a balloon." From this straightforward first line follows a picture book imported from Japan that perfectly reflects a very young child's worldview. Toddler Emily's balloon comes home with her and, tied to a spoon, floats at just the right height for companionship. The two friends play until a gust of wind sends the balloon up into a tree, where, to Emily's dismay, it gets stuck. Even so, it provides a reassuring presence outside Emily's window all night, "just like the moon." Soft pencil-and-wash sketches, all in grays and browns except for the bright yellow balloon, reinforce the child-centered feel of the book as they focus squarely on Emily's attachment to her balloon friend. For all their simplicity, the illustrations are remarkably expressive, particularly at capturing a toddler's body language. Sakai's minimal text segues fluidly and coherently from an omniscient narrator's voice to that of Emily's mother and even Emily herself and is nicely matter-of-fact, never condescending nor sentimental in its acceptance of object as friend. The lack of an adult filter on child experience is refreshing and effective." -The Horn Book, starred review

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Product Details

Age Range: 1 and up
Hardcover: 44 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (February 23, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0811852199
ISBN-13: 978-0811852197
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.4 x 10.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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“ The beauty of this story is its elegantly simple text and illustrations. ” Books for Children | 6 reviewers made a similar statement

“ Might also make a great beginning reader for older children. ” Emily Anderegg | 4 reviewers made a similar statement

“ This book is adorable and the story is moving me every time I read it to her. ” cathdluna | 5 reviewers made a similar statement

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great tale May 16, 2006

By Diane

Format:Hardcover

Simple illustrations make this tale perfectly suited to a toddler`s interest,even my 4 month-old baby love it!

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Emily's Balloon January 11, 2007

By J. Burgen

Had seen a review in Fort Worth Star-Telegram and wanted it for my three-year-old granddaughter named Emma. She has enjoyed it a lot. Nice and simple allowing for ad lib storytelling.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book. June 17, 2013

By Jod_eye

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

My bosses daughter's name is Emily, and she always loved balloons, that's why I purchased this book. And I loved it! It is a lovely story and beautifully illustrated! Highly recommend.

5.0 out of 5 stars Emily's book collection April 10, 2013

By cathdluna

My little girl name is Emily so I take time to find her books with her name. This book is adorable and the story is moving me every time I read it to her.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Favorite March 10, 2013

By lburr

Such a lovely story and beautiful illustrations. It's a treat to read every time and my kids just love it. There is a gentle rhythm to the story that keeps my kids transfixed.

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect For Anyone! January 23, 2013

A Kid's Review

This book has beautiful illustrations! The story itselfs is very simple, which makes it even better. I gave it as a gift to my 11 year-old niece. Her name is Emily and she loves it, as Well as my sister did too. It's a perfect gift for a baby girl, a young girl or a woman. It will definitely make a mark in your loved one's heart. I strongly recommend it.