The Red Balloon [Hardcover]

Albert Lamorisse (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 15, 1967 | Age Range: 3 - 7 years

A magical book that has become an enduring children's classic, The Red Balloon is the story of a young boy and his best friend--a bright red balloon. Chock-full of photographs of the boy, the balloon and the captivating city of Paris.

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A magical book that has become an enduring children's classic, The Red Balloon is the story of a young boy and his best friend--a bright red balloon. Chock-full of photographs of the boy, the balloon and the captivating city of Paris.

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year.

From the Inside Flap

A magical book that has become an enduring children's classic, The Red Balloon is the story of a young boy and his best friend--a bright red balloon. Chock-full of photographs of the boy, the balloon and the captivating city of Paris.

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 7 years
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers (July 15, 1967)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385003439
• ISBN-13: 978-0385003438
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 12.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful story and a profoundly enduring memory December 13, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

As a very young boy, I remember asking my mother to read The Red Balloon to me a hundred times or more; something must have truly spoken to me in the story of this child with the ever-faithful balloon friend. On par with Saint-Exuperie (author of "Le Petit Prince"), the metaphors in this 'children's book' run a gamut of complex emotions -- from learning love for friends, to feeling different and expelled, a sense of loss,... but then ultimately reclaimed, finding joy in one's own self. There's sadness, but also understanding, as the balloon's 'life' goes. The lessons here are obvious ones, and I am glad they were imparted on me at an early age. I highly recommend this title to kids 3 to 8 -- particularly if they seem introverted or shy. They might not always be so, once they learn to let go! FYI, you may find copies of The Red Balloon currently (12/12/99) at your local Resoration Hardware; thanks guys! Oh, and don't forget to read to a child! :-)

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, evocative story of friendship December 26, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is a story I first fell in love with when I first saw the film as a child over forty years ago. It seems to grow even more special to me as the years pass. Both the book and the film capture the unique imagination and loneliness of childhood. The story paints a child's-eye view of Paris that few, if any, Americans have experienced. The photo illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. I gave this as a gift to my niece this year and I know that she will treasure this as I have for many years.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars mutli-generational delight June 28, 2002

By Compusurge

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

When I was a little boy, this story brought me incredible delight over and over again. When I saw this film as a young man in my 20's, it brought me delight again, letting me relive my childhood all over. As an adult, I just introduced the book and the film to my 2 year old daughter, and once again this classic story has brought me delight. My daughter, who is usually only interested in Elmo and Barney, stood riveted through both the pages of the book and the scenes of the film, as Pascal and his balloon let her imagination soar. I cannot recommend this story more than to say 'no child should grow up without it'.