May 15, 2019
Sitting still on the ground, alone, Ball wishes he could soar like Balloon. Suddenly he's thrown, bounced, rolled, passed, and kicked in a fantastic playground pickup game, and he sees what's fantastic about being himself. Children encounter other crucial lifelong lessons in this engaging picture book about two simple objects that give young people unending pleasure. Apostrophic lines give Ball and Balloon expressions children can easily interpret: embarrassment, smugness, surprise, pride, exhilaration, discouragement, love, satisfaction, and reciprocity. When Ball tries to roll and bounce on his own but can't, Balloon taunts from above, calling, "The sky's the limit....Ta-ta, Ball!" Both Ball's impotent dejection and Balloon's glib gloating (so vividly depicted in distilled language and nuanced facial expressions against a white backdrop) arrive as arrows to readers' hearts, which will recognize both feelings as their own. Digitally compiled mixed-media illustrations offer varied perspectives, from way above the basketball hoop to down at the asphalt, as well as lots of movement, with Ball whizzing and Balloon floating. The cleanliness and clarity of these illustrations facilitate a focus on feelings. Children glean fundamental lessons in empathy, navigating exhilaration and sadness, and the importance of helping others while riding out Ball's and Balloon's emotional (and literal) highs and lows. Entertaining and instructive for the playground set. (Picture book. 2-6)
COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from August 1, 2019
PreS-Gr 2-Ball is feeling low. He is envious of Balloon and his ability to soar gracefully into the sky. But "gravity had Ball down." He can't even manage a single bounce until helpful hands arrive to give him a beginning push, and suddenly he's flying high into the air. The presence of a basketball hoop (lightly represented in background images) sends Ball sailing from hand to hand, eventually scoring in a pickup game-"I'm so lucky...So lucky to be a ball"- and a momentarily "deflated" Balloon can do nothing but wait until a playmate finds games for both of his well-rounded friends. Brief text and dialogue emphasized by dramatic use of white space, color, and perspective enhance the graphic design and the simple cartoon expressions of both Ball and Balloon. Characters speak with a child's voice as Ball's growing awareness of his own special abilities reveals to him that his joy is inside him, and life as a ball is just fine. VERDICT A soaring suggested first purchase for all libraries. -Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2019
With swoops and swirls, a helium-filled blue Balloon shows off for an envious earthbound red Ball. The despondent Ball mopes--until a young "someone" begins to roll, bounce, and throw Ball across the playground. Disregarded Balloon feels "a bit deflated," so Ball generously leaves the playground fun to commiserate. Wordplay abounds in this otherwise minimal story (both text and art) of envy and competition, empathy and acceptance.
(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
September 1, 2019
Wordplay abounds in this otherwise minimal story (in both text and art) of envy and competition, empathy and acceptance. A helium-filled blue Balloon shows off for an envious red Ball ( gravity had Ball down ) with a series of swoops and swirls. No matter how hard Ball tries to fly, roll, and bounce like Balloon, he stays earthbound. Self-satisfied with his aerial achievements, Balloon leaves the despondent Ball alone to mope?that is, until a young someone enters the story and begins to roll, bounce, and throw Ball across the playground. Soon Ball is swirling, sailing, and swooshing through crowds of kids with an expression of pure joy on his face?leaving the disregarded Balloon feeling a bit deflated. Ball, knowing what it's like to feel down, generously leaves the fun of the playground to commiserate with him. Sanders concludes the story with the simple yet powerful statement that someone understood. The pun-laden text is often delivered through succinct poetic phrases and succeeds at reinforcing the story's empathetic underpinnings. Ball and Balloon have an emoji-like quality, but thanks to Yoon's dynamic portrayal of movement and skillfully depicted facial expressions, the characters never appear static or stilted. Reminiscent of Amy Krouse Rosenthal's brand of silly and sentimental storytelling (Friendshape; Spoon; Chopsticks), this picture book is a ball. patrick gall
(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)