Goodbye, Balloon

by Adam Ciccio, Margriet van der Berg (Illustrator)

"No one should wait for a child to experience loss before sharing this wise, gentle book." - Kirkus Reviews Letting go and loss can be difficult to comprehend. Goodbye Balloon will help you understand these emotions and give you insights to deal with them.  Where does a special balloon go when it slips out of your hands? You can’t stop it, but you can wish it a beautiful journey, gliding past birds and soaring over mountains. Maybe your balloon will fly to someone else so that they can have a happy day.  A beautifully illustrated picture book about learning to let go. For children ages 5 years and up.  Part of the Healthy Minds series, where Adam Ciccio examines daily obstacles and the mental health of young children. Through a familiar story and helpful tips, which the author draws from his own experiences as an outpatient mental health practitioner, children and adults gain insight into what goes on in young minds and are given tools to help them cope with difficult situations.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2023

About the author

Adam Ciccio was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was raised in Savannah, Georgia, and attended high school at St. Andrew’s School on Wilmington Island, GA. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH) in 2006 and with a Master of Science in Psychological Counseling at Salem State University (Salem, MA) in 2012. He owns an outpatient mental health practice for children and adults in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the same town which he currently resides. Adam Ciccio is the author of several picture books that focus on developmental growth and self-confidence during early childhood.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is supposed to be about processing loss and I’m not sure I get it. I’m lost. This character has a balloon. They have fabulous adventures, but the character knows that eventually the balloon will go away. We follow along the adventures until one day, the balloon is handed off to another character, as if instead of saying goodbye, it’s saying it’s time to move on. This book is written by a psychologist who helps children with their mental states. The book in general is lovely. I don’t think it gets the point they’re trying to make. I will say the watercolor illustrations are amazing. They would look good on any wall as art outside of the book.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A beautifully illustrated picture book about learning to let go." Beautifully illustrated indeed, and powerful one too. We might forgot the feeling of having something that is "mine", years ago. Something we can call "my own" and belongs only to me. How special the object is, and once we lost it, well, we already forgot how we can cope with that feeling. But objects, or pets, or friends and family, that we hold dear, are sometimes gone. This book helps little ones to let go of those that they held dear, and is a beautiful one to read.

[Geoff Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first comment is that this children’s book is part of a series called Healthy Minds. The aim of the series, as stated on the cover is “to examine daily obstacles and the mental health of young children.”

In the story presented, a child loses a balloon, and you can wish it a beautiful journey. This is the healthy psychological tip one is to draw from the story. That which you can’t control, learn to reframe it in a positive way. If this is the sole aim of the book, I suggest it has achieved its purpose.

However, the author acknowledges young minds need to process loss, and states their recovery from loss follows established stages of grief. I found in the book little help in moving the young child through the stages of grief (which the author correctly identifies as denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, before moving to acceptance.)

The real downfall of the book is too hastily moving to the acceptance stage, and also offering a one dimensional solution to solve the problem. At no point does the girl with the lost balloon express sadness or disappointment to a parent or a friend. As a past school teacher, I found this a disappointing oversight, given that the author is attempting to help children develop “healthy minds.” Much research has established that social connections is a positive attribute to handling life well.

From my point of view, the author has not given the steps to help the child “grieve the loss.” Indeed, it seems to me this child has already accepted losing their balloon. AS a parent and as a school teacher, I would want the book to suggest skills and strategies to help my child move through the established stages of grief.

What remains for me to do is to comment on the illustrations. Simply wonderful! Engaging! These will stimulate interaction with the child and encourage communication.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to review this children’s book. As an experienced teacher of children with disabilities for over 30 years, I used children’s literature regularly to facilitate children’s learning.

[Danica is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Received for review: I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review, nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.

Why did I decide to turn the pages? The concept caught my interest.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: The illustrations were intriuging. The watercolor style of illustrations was unique and extremely well done. I found myself drawn to the illustrations and spending more time on them.

That's a huge plus for this book.

I also liked the concept of healthy minds and being able to deal with loss and letting go.

However, the writing in this one was not my favorite. It wasn't bad, and I do think the imagery would be helpful for kids who were struggling with loss in particular.

But it is not the best written I've read.

So why 3 stars? Good concept and illustrations with an important lesson but it did not quite deliver for me.

Pages: about 32.

Reading age:4-9 years of age.

Love,

Danica Page

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been a big fan of picture books that deal with children's emotions, but this one presents the unusual premise of having a balloon, one of the many physical possessions that enter our lives for a brief period of time, represent loss and grief.

I liked this bit from the author's afterward:
Losing something meaningful might be out of our control, but what we choose to believe is very much in our control. We can believe that the people we love are in the best places and we're able to come to eventual peace and acceptance.

That said, I feel I should point out that it is also possible to enjoy this just as a lovely picture book (the watercolors by Magriet van de Berg are gorgeous and ethereal), without having a discussion about symbolism and the subject matter.

Thanks to NetGalley and Clavis Publishing for sharing.

[Suzan Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is one of the sad lessons of childhood that friendships with helium-filled balloons do not last very long. This book teaches children how to deal with that sad fact of life, and other losses as well. The low key pastel colors of the illustrations reflect the gentle tone of the text as a young girl accepts the loss of her friend.

This book is part of a series that seeks to help young children cope with obstacles to mental health. It is written by someone with an outpatient mental health practice.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know this adventure will eventually end, and we'll have to say goodbye. It's time to open my eyes. Losing something is never easy. It's hard to let go.

It can be very difficult to find the words and know the feelings as we go thru losses. This book for young children helps with those difficulties. It is illustrated very colorful and whimsical.

With every loss, there is a gain. It is just finding it.

A special thank you Clavis Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Helen (they or he) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reading copy.

This is such a colorful and imaginative take on dealing with loss and sadness. I love the way we are trying to teach children how to let go. That's a necessary skill. I think I'm gonna follow this series. Based on this book alone, I believe healthy minds series just might acheive what they're setting out to do.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evocative, lyrical and stunningly illustrated. I enjoyed the book's unique view on loss and how it helps kids to process such feelings. What I love best are the gorgeous artwork and splashes of colours. This is a charming read that will appeal to children.

Thank you to Clavis Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a child imagining chasing her lost balloon as she floats along with the balloon to new places and when the adventure ends they will have to say goodbye.

[Karen Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute short story about the power of one’s imagination. Beautifully illustrated, perfect for creating a quiet moment or as a bedtime story. Sure to inspire moments of creativity and dreams.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful children’s book about loss.

[Ria]

Wat heeft deze ballon met mentale gezondheid te maken?
Er zijn prentenboeken die je verrassen als je ze openslaat. Dit is er één van.

Een enorme kleurenexplosie komt je tegemoet. Van een poëtisch tafereel naar een meer vlekkerig onduidelijk geheel om vervolgens te zweven naar sfeervolle natuurtinten tot er letterlijk onweer komt opzetten. De woede vliegt je tegemoet om vervolgens in de nasleep van de bui je te laten meedeinen naar kalmer zachter vaarwater. Een prikkeldag kom je nog wel tegen, maar de rust van een positieve regenboog laat zich steeds vaker zien.

Dit verhaal van een meisje en haar ballon is een deel in de reeks ‘Mijn kop is top’. In de huidige tijd komt en mag er meer aandacht zijn voor mentale gezondheid.
Het meisje van het omslag moet omgaan met verlies en dat wordt verbeeld door de ballon die wegdrijft. Een ballon die een vervangbaar stuk speelgoed is, zou een opmerking kunnen zijn. Toch kan dit voor een kind op dat moment van grote waarde zijn. Misschien was het een cadeau van een dierbaar iemand die er niet meer is of een verdwenen huisdier wordt erg gemist? Of juist de persoon zelf, een klasgenootje of grootouder, de gekoesterde hond of kat. Hoe verwerk je kleiner of groter verlies?

‘De mist wordt dikker en we kunnen niets meer zien.
Maar dat is niet erg. We volgen ons hart, dat wijst ons de weg.’

In bijv. de eerder uitgekomen ’Spiegel van Marie’ en ‘Ik kan het’ van Adam Ciccio zijn de thema’s onzekerheid en faalangst uitgewerkt. De tekst in dit prentenboek heeft een meer filosofisch dromerige tot rakende inslag maar ook hier passen de woorden exact bij de emotie van dat moment in de fases van verwerking waarbij het belang van tijd nemen wordt benadrukt.

‘We zweven langs flamingo’s die naar warmere oorden trekken.
En we nemen rustig onze tijd om alles te zien, want onze reis is geen wedstrijd.’

De kleuren in de prachtige platen van Margriet van den Berg geven exact de fases in emotie weer die je tegenkomt. De gezichtsuitdrukking van het meisje verandert door een miniem verschil in tekening merkbaar mee. Platen die het verdienen om stuk voor stuk met aandacht te bekijken. Ze verbeelden het gevoel en de gedachte van de tekst. Het lijkt bijna of juist de tekst bij de beelden is geschreven.
Deze beelden zijn met verschillende materialen zoals krijt, ecoline en aquarel gemaakt. Aan de ondergrond van de illustraties is af te leiden dat er niet met glad papier is gewerkt. De structuur hiervan is bij het drukken bewaard gebleven.

Achterin wordt een toelichting gegeven door de auteur die werkzaam is in de geestelijke gezondheidszorg voor kinderen en volwassenen. Een mooi aan te raden themaboek. Kijk het in als je het ziet staan en neem de tijd om het vaker door te bladeren zodat dit een hulp kan zijn bij net dat ene kind dat het mentaal even of langere tijd moeilijk heeft.