FICTION

Bird, Balloon, Bear

illus. by Il Sung Na. 32p. ebook available. Knopf. Mar. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780399551550.
COPY ISBN
PreS-K—Bird looks for a friend on his first day in the new forest. He spies Bear but is too shy to introduce himself. Before he builds up the courage to speak to the stranger, Bear finds a handsome though silent red balloon. Bear's play with Balloon is watched from afar by isolated, lonely Bird. When the wind blows Balloon away, Bird tries to rescue it, but the balloon pops. Bird and Bear now become friends and share great fun. Perspectives change on each spread, as does the placement of figures on the white backgrounds. The result is a dramatic pacing as the tale moves from richly hued spreads to smaller portraits of Bird and Bear on open pages. This simply told tale of unlikely friendships and resilience is as appealing as the creator's Opposite Zoo and Welcome Home Bear.
VERDICT A sweet, endearing tale just right for sharing one-on-one or with small groups.

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