Please Bring Balloons

by Lindsay Ward

Every day can be an adventure. Especially if you bring balloons.

Ever wondered what it would be like to ride a carousel right off its platform?  As Emma discovers, all it takes is a handful of balloons and a very kind polar bear to show you the way.  This soaring story of friendship, between a carousel bear and the little girl who noticed him, will take readers to the arctic and back—in time for bedtime, of course—and remind them anything is possible.  Even flying.

Genres: Picture Books, Adventure, Childrens, Fantasy, Storytime, Animals, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Lindsay Ward has a BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University. Her most recent books include It’s Show and Tell, Dexter! and Don’t Forget Dexter!, books 1 and 2 in the Dexter T. Rexter Series with Two Lions. She is also the author and illustrator of Brobarians (Two Lions, 2017), The Importance of Being 3 (Dial 2016), Rosco vs. the Baby (S&S, 2016), Henry Finds His Word (Dial, 2015), a Choose to Read Ohio Book, When Blue Met Egg (Dial, 2012), and Please Bring Balloons (Dial, 2013), which was produced into a play by the New York City Children’s Theater in 2017. Her work has been reviewed in Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, and the New York Times. Lindsay is currently working on a new board book series, I Go!, with HarperCollins, due Summer 2019 and This Book Is Gray, a new picture book with Two Lions. She is the founder of Critter Lit (www.critterlit.com), a free picture book manuscript and illustration critique service for up-and-coming authors and illustrators. Lindsay lives in Peninsula, Ohio with her husband, two sons, and dog. Visit her online at www.lindsaymward.com or follow her on Twitter @lindsaymward.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something of a The Snowman vibe to this tale of a girl and a carousel animal that leaves you wondering . . . did it really happen, or was it all a dream? I love the author's collage illustrations (always makes me want to drag out my own stash of paper and a glue stick.)

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful adventure. Are you ready? Please bring balloons.

[Patricia Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our absolute favourites!

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen Vincent featured this on her "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" post today, and I loved the cover, so I found it at the bookstore. The art is beautiful, and I enjoyed the adventurous story of a girl who finds a note rucked under the saddle of a polar bear on the carousel. The note asks for some balloons, and after she finds enough, he takes off with her on his back. He brings her back before bedtime, and the next day, she thinks she dreamed the whole thing. The ending brings a great surprise.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting and engaging. I loved the long page to flip to see all of the polar bears dancing. The adventure she went on was enticing and could definitely get kids engaged. The illustrations had so much detail and was vivid and colorful. I really liked the uniqueness of having all different types of paper used for the imagery.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly charming book about a girl called Emma who is asked to bring balloons to a carousel polar bear, and goes into an adventure with the polar bear. It has beautiful illustrations and a clever conceit, and my pre-k students loved it.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story and it is beautifully illustrated too! A lovely tale for young and old. Enjoy!!

[Ashlin Edmisten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are just beautiful. The story is adorable and exciting for both kids and adults. It's a great adventure tale.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork was beautiful. I liked the book, but not sure I would us in for a story time.

[Erin Beitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pictures are great but the story is just a little weird.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids and I loved the artwork and the dream-like story.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl and a polar bear have an adventure where they float away on balloons and explore icy territory. Preschool and up

[Mary Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story with beautiful mixed media illustrations. Loved looking at all the paper piercings and sequin surprises.

[Lani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated and magical picture book.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whimsical and sweet. A good bedtime book.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a girl listens to a note and brings balloons to a carousel bear, they float off on an adventure. Then they climb a snowy mountain to a polar bear party. A dreamy night is full of delight.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun and imaginative story! And, what gorgeous collage illustrations!

[Jaimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice! I would put this as good for the 4-6 range? The younger kids in my story time enjoyed it, but I think the older kids would connect a little more.

[Michael Lent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful art and message. Love the whimsy and magic.

[Linda Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It appeared unexpectedly. Peeking out of the polar bear's saddle, a hint of paper." So begins Please Bring Balloons. A magical adventure's stage is set with a carousel, a carousel polar bear, a little girl on her way to and from school, a piece of paper, and a balloon. With each day, more and more balloons are added and the magic of a northward, skyward journey takes place for a young girl and her carousel polar bear friend.

Simply told, artistically illustrated, this delightful story opens a make-believe world to children of all ages. I loved it all.

The art intrigued me as the cut paper pieces are collages of varied shapes made of primary writing paper, regular notebook paper, graph paper, paper with math problems, numbers, and musical notations on the pieces, snippets of paper with very neat handwriting, calendars, even origami. Whitewashed maps of real places become the destinations for this magical journey.

Do not miss the back cover: two small carousel polar bears are holding the ISBN/price label at an angle on the dust cover. I was delighted to find that giving me a great big smile! CUTE!

I imagine we will be seeing more from Lindsay Ward!

Reading Level: 3-5 years old

Award
Honorable Mention for Best Escape Picture Book 2013 by Huffington Post

Author
"Lindsay Ward is fascinated by the way the world looks from above and has always wanted to write a story with a little magic. Add to that the fact that her parents actually met painting carousel animals...." Please Bring Balloons seems to be a perfect fit for Ms. Ward, both as the author and the illustrator. Originally from California, Lindsay journeyed across the USA to attend college @ Syracuse University where it snows and where she received her BFA in Illustration. She has illustrated a number of children's picture books. Ms. Ward's other books as both author and illustrator are Pelly and Mr. Harrison Visit the Moon (Kane/Miller) and When Blue Met Egg (Dial Books for Young Readers). You can visit her on the web at lindsaymward.com or check out her blog at respectthecupcake.blogspot.com. She also designs social stationary and wedding invitations, selling them through her Etsy Shop, Borrowed & Blue.

[Megan Renner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ward. L (2013). Please bring balloons. New York. Penguin Group.

The Story begins by a little girl that rode a polar bear on a carousel. She found a note on the bear that said "Please bring" that had a picture of a balloon. The next day the little girl brings with her one balloon. Later that day she comes back to find another note. This time it said "Please bring more" and there was a picture of lots of balloons. The next day the little girl (named Emma) brings lots more balloons. She ties them to the polar bear and then sits on him. She sits there for a few minuets. Then all of a sudden, they started floating up in the sky. They kept going higher and higher. Eventually they landed on the North Pole! They walked around the North Pole and then arrived at a polar bear party. They had lots of fun dancing and enjoying the party. Then it became late and it was time to go home. Emma and the polar bear then floated home. The next day Emma visited the polar bear once again and there was another note. This time, there was a picture that said "Please bring, love P.B". On the note there was a picture of a bicycle. Then the story ends. I enjoyed this book. I was not sure where Emma and the bear were going to go. I was surprised when they arrived at the North Pole. It kept me reading. I rate this story 5/5. I thought it was original and fun to read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day, Emma finds a note on the carousel's polar bear. "Please bring [a balloon]" it says. Curious, she brings the bear a balloon, only to find that one is apparently not enough. So, she joyfully brings more. Perfect. The bear takes off, carrying Emma into the sky. Together, they travel all the way to the North Pole, showcasing some beautiful, starry night scenes along the way. All seems quiet until they crest the final hill. At this point page flaps fold out to reveal a party of polar bears. For her help, Emma shares in the fun, dancing and playing until the morning when she is returned home.

Cut and pasted paper pieces decorate and add physical depth to this magical adventure. Most pieces are patterned with simple things like stripes or numbers, however in the most clever and relevant case, the artist uses maps of the northern hemisphere for the snow.

Lighthearted and whimsical, the simple request to bring some balloons leads to a joyous journey that will please many a daydreamer.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

AGE: Preschool-1st grade
Animals: Polar Bears

A fantastical story of Emma, a child that is asked by a carousel polar bear to bring balloons--and lots of them. Upon tying the balloons to the bear's saddle, and climbing aboard, Emma and the bear float away with the wind toward the North Pole where a polar bear rumpus was taking place. The artwork is definitely a scrapbooker's dream with a lovely collection of paper patterns. The story is soft and whimsical (perhaps targeting older girls) with adventure and travel, not too long and not too short--perfect for bedtime.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl finds a note tucked under a carousel polar bear's saddle. The note reads "Please bring" and includes a drawing of a balloon. So starts Emma's dreamy adventure with a polar bear and a bunch of balloons. They end up at a polar bear rumpus in the Arctic before the polar bear sees Emma safely home to bed. The next day, Emma goes back to the carousel, but everything seems back to normal...except for that note tucked under the polar bear's saddle... As with the author's other book, When Blue Met Egg, I loved the artwork that includes cut paper.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unexpected adventure began at the zoo the day Emma found a note hidden on the Polar Bear on the carousel. The note said to bring balloons. So Emma did. And soon she and the polar bear are off on a grand journey up to the sky, above the city, into the stars, and through an icy landscape. This imaginative tale is accompanied by whimsical mixed media illustrations that utilize a variety textures and cut papers. A great bedtime story.

Read More at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to go in the middle for this rating. The kids loved the story, asked for it multiple times. Myself on the other hand had a real problem with the juxtaposition of the helium balloons and the polar bears. One of my peeves are how easily people litter their balloons and how quickly they get into the ecosystem harming so much wildlife; presenting it as a fun thing and a gateway to the arctic which also for me, the polar bears are the poster species for climate change, was a horrible combination. A quirk of mine which would have personally resulted in a one star.

[Kate McGinty aka Caryn Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a young girl visits a carousel, she discovers an intriguing note tucked under the polar bear's saddle: "Please bring balloons." Once she has attached two whole bunches of balloons, the girl and bear float off on a whimsical adventure to the North Pole.

What a wonderful story! The text is delightful -- dreamy and imaginative and intriguing, with a hint of future adventures. The illustrations are gorgeous as well, the kind I would happily frame and hang on a wall if it didn't mean destroying a lovely book.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book makes you feel like you've fallen into a dream. A little girl finds a note tucked on a polar bear on a carosel. It tells here to please bring balloons and when she does an adventure begins. The Polar Bear comes to life at night and together they drift away to the edge of the Arctic for a Polar Bear Rumpus. The imaginative tale, the characters that seem to float across the pages, and the whimsical illustrations all lend to the dreamlike sense. 3+

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's just say the illustrations in this book are so soft and amazing. It has lots of beautiful colors throughout the book. The story-line in this book are so unique and beautiful. I think this book makes out to be a really good book to read right at bedtime. The story-line is cute and it flows perfectly on each book. Cassie really enjoyed the story and loved looking at the pictures on each page. I recommend you to check out this unique children's book.

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subjects


Adventure stories


Novelty balloons -- Juvenile fiction.


Ballons -- Juvenile fiction.


Polar bear -- Juvenile fiction


Merry-go-round -- Juvenile fiction.


Adventure stories


Novelty balloons -- Fiction.


Balloons -- Fiction.


Polar bear -- Fiction.


Merry-go-round -- Ficti