Customer Reviews

Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

That dynamic duo, Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell ponder the age-old question, Where Do Balloons Go?, in their fourth collaboration of the same name. Written in rhyme, Curtis' gentle, witty, imaginative story will delight and amuse children of all ages as they explore the possibilities of what might happen when you let go of a balloon. "Do they tango with airplanes? Or cha-cha with birds? Can plain balloons read balloons printed with words?" Cornell's busy, expressive illustrations add just the right touch to this wonderful story and will keep youngsters entranced reading after reading as they find new hidden pictures and scenes. This is a real gem of a book, the whole family will enjoy, that is sure to become a classic in years to come.

I've read many reviews of this book, yet none mention the book was written as an analogy for death and heaven. I first heard of the book during an interview on TV w/Jamie Lee Curtis. Jamie Lee Curtis said she wrote it after the death of a very close friend. It's a very abstract way of talking about where people go after they pass away. It is one of the best books on this subject for young children that I have found. I send this book to friends as a gift when they have experienced a loss in their lives. It has always meant a lot to the people who have received it.

Jamie Lee Curtis (actress, author and mom) and Laura Cornell (illustrator) let their imaginations run wild as they explore the possibilities (Are there balloon cities? Balloons in space?)

The humor is gentle and a touch sly (adults will recognize such in-jokes like a nervous balloon waiting near the Bates Motel from the movie PSYCHO - a nod to Ms Curtis's mom, Janet Leigh, who was in the film.)

This is the fourth book from this creative duo and is probably my favorate so far! A must for the inquisitive child, it also includes cool reusable stickers with a little play area in the back of the book.

This book clearly deserves more than five stars!

Most good children's books have a primary story line that entertains the children, and brings home an important lesson. The outstanding children's books manage to combine more than one lesson. The great children's books appeal to adults as much as to children. The classic children's books take children and adults to places, thoughts, and lessons that they would never otherwise have considered. Where Do Balloons Go? has all of the elements of a classic children's book, with some novel improvements in combining text and illustrations to expand your imagination.

Where Do Balloons Go? begins with this query:

"Where do balloons go when you let them go free?

It can happen by accident. It's happened to me."

Now, if you are like me, you assume that the helium-filled balloons are carried high into the air until they either develop a hole and burst or explode from the expansion of the helium into the near-vacuum around the balloon. Not very exciting as alternative thoughts, are they? That dead-end in your mind, though, sets you up for the wonderful, mind-expanding speculations in this interesting book.

"Are they always alone? Do they ever meet up in pairs?

Do they ever get married and make balloon heirs?"

To fully appreciate this set of questions, you have to imagine the illustrations that complement the queries. Balloons are dining in a restaurant, having a romantic time. Using that illustrative vision to launch into the idea of balloon "heirs" (pun obviously intended for "airs") is hilarious. I just loved it.

The illustrations are done in vibrant colors, emphasizing lots of purples, that create a play with the text and vice versa as the above example shows to greatly expand the meaning of the book.

For a further example, the text says that balloons are

" . . . always concerned that they'll POP --

maybe caught up in wires

pushed by the breeze . . . or tangled in trees . . . . "

The corresponding illustration emphasizes professional human balloon detanglers with advertisements and all kinds of specialized gear untangling balloons from trees. The illustrations have a Richard Scarry-type appearance combined with a New Yorker-style sophistication that effortlessly engage these illustrations to nicely bridge the gap between children and adults, without excluding either side of the audience. In this sequence, you have an additional reversal in that people are serving the balloons, rather than our usual conception of the object serving the person. Without this illustration for the text, that final visual play on the verbal concept would not have been possible.

A standard technique for children's books is just to anthromorphize the objects. This book goes well beyond that. First, different types of anthromophization are employed (as objects with senses "twisted by clowns" as well as self-animate objects "Do they tango with airplanes?"). The balloons are also made into creatures with animal-like qualities ("Or cha-cha with birds?") and spiritual beings (with a relationship to the stars).

You will have to read the book to appreciate its full power. Along the way, you will be exposed to concepts that explore balloon communication methods, how balloons relax, benefits achieved by floating away, activities they pursue unseen in the sky, and the mental perceptions of the balloons as all this occurs. In one nice surprise, there's an enormous fold-out illustration. At the end, you also have stickers that your child can put on the book or anywhere else that she or he wants to.

The ending is brilliantly done, in closing the seemingly open-ended circle of the questions and the action. You will appreciate the way the ending connects parent and child in a particularly nice way.

After you have enjoyed the mind-expanding, humorous, and versatile perspectives in this book, I suggest that you take another question to which there is a scientific answer available, and build your own set of speculations and interactions. In the process, you and your child can create the story together . . . along with your own illustrations. If you cannot think of any other question, I suggest "Why does popcorn pop?" as a starting point. The punny potential of that question could even take you beyond the heights reached in Where Do Balloons Go?

Reach mentally for the stars and grab the physical and emotional closeness that rewards both you and your child!

"WHERE DO BALLOONS GO" is sweet and so bright. Althought it may be intended for young children, I believe any aged reader would enjoy the light rhyming story. This title is also filled with beautiful and bright illustrations.

There are fun stickers and special pages for sticker play in a wonderful hardback book that is sure to bring a smile and lift to the reader.

This book would also make a great gift for someone who is moving on or letting go. In all aspects from the construction, print quality, artwork to the written word it is truly a winner!

Where Do Balloons Go? This puzzles many children and even some adults. As a soon-to-be teacher, I felt this book would be great for my classroom. The book is wonderfully written and illustrated by the talented Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrator Laura Cornell. The pictures seem to come to life with each word spoken. The book also includes stickers, which can be reused. I look forward to reading this book to my students!

I think I enjoy this book more than my kids do!! Wonderful book to expand a childs imagination. Great pictures too!! My kids are to young to catch it, but I got a kick out of the Bates Motel picture!! After we read it the first time, my sons wanted to let a balloon go!

On its surface this is an enchanting story that children will undoubtedly enjoy. But, at a deeper, more profound level, this is also a book about loss. Perhaps the loss of a friend who has moved, a pet who has died, or sadly the loss of a parent through divorce or death. For children (and adults) who are coping with loss, reading this book may provide the uplift their sprits need so that they too can soar with the balloons.

This was a great book.....but I'm not sure they put the age groups correctly (4 to 8)....I just purchased this book to be put away until my daughter leaves for college. As with balloons, one also "holds tight", until it's time to let go of OUR most precious gift, our children...whom we pray will fly high and free.

My son was very interested in balloons, so I bought him a couple books about them. Where do Balloons Go? quickly became our favorite. The illustrations are beautiful, vibrant watercolors. The story is funny, with a touching ending. I found myself with a bit of a lump in my throat reading the closing line ("Where do balloons go? It's a mystery, I know. So just hold on tight till you have to...let go."). The sentiment is so meaningful. Some reviewers have commented that this book would be a good way to explain to a child how to deal with the death of a loved one. I can see it as applying to many other aspects in life where you have to "let go." The main idea is to appreciate what you have in the present moment.

Of course, most of the "meaningful" stuff goes right over my toddler's head. He just likes that it's a silly story about balloons and where they might go when you let them go free. The story is written in rhyme, so you can't help but use a sing-song voice when you read it. My son eats that up. He also loves that the center pages fold out to reveal "a big balloon dance." It's his favorite part. I was concerned that the special fold out pages would end up damaged or torn, but he's very careful with them. Well, as careful as a two year old can be. The book has held up just fine, though. The ages listed for this book are 4 through 8 years, but I think that even younger children can appreciate it, as well as parents. It's a fabulous book, and sure to be a favorite for any family.