Author: Claudia Colonna
Illustrator: ED Hose
Publisher: Independently Published
Released: May 1, 2025
Format: Paperback, Kindle
Price: $12.95, $2.99
Genre: Children’s Picture Books
Age Range: Author recommends 5-7 years.
ISBN:979-8281981521
Page Count: 46 pages
Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 3 Lemon Drops
Available on Amazon.
Kindness is like holding a balloon, it lifts you up!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and agreed to give an honest review.
Favorite quote from the book:
“They are all talking about this mysterious girl with a balloon who brought a smile to their day.”
Review:
Book Summary:
A clear balloon floating by grabs the attention of Bajette, who is looking for her lost cat, Rocco. With the balloon string in hand, she spreads kindness throughout her town, creating positivity and forming friendships. With each new encounter, the balloon changes color, marking the goodwill Bajette shares with her community, while she continues searching for Rocco.
Opinion:
Bajette’s Balloon follows the gracious actions of Bajette as she offers help to others without expecting anything in return. Bajette is a wonderful role model of empathy for children. Her thoughtful acts teach children the value of friendship and the power of kindness.
Although I appreciated the selfless message of the story, I feel Bajette’s actions are overshadowed by Rocco’s harrowing experience of nearly dying in a house fire. I can’t help thinking, shouldn’t the balloon have taken Bajette to Rocco before he went into the burning building if it was meant to help?
I’m also curious about the balloon’s color shift. Were the colors chosen randomly, or did they each signify something? I try not to be overly critical, but as a storyteller, I think it’s important to explore all options, so the main point of the story gets through to young readers.
The lively illustrations by Ed Hose brighten the story and make it fun.
I give it 3 Lemon Drops!
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About The Author:
Bajette’s Balloon was created by Claudia, who was inspired by her parents’ unwavering spirit of generosity. Even in tough times, they found excitement in giving to others, a value Claudia cherishes and carries forward through this story. Claudia is excited to further teach kids about empathy and the importance of kindness and friendships.
About the Illustrator:
As a child, Ed Hose was allowed to draw on the walls. Coloring outside the lines was an understatement and thinking outside the box was so celebrated, she is pretty sure she grew up without a box altogether.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! You’re right, Rocco caused quite the mischief. But animals often find themselves in topsy-turvy situations, and his moment gave me the chance to highlight the real hero here, the firefighter. His bravery and Bajette’s small act of gratitude with her sandwich is where the heart of the kindness message comes through.
ReplyDeleteThe kids love the color-changing balloon and enjoy guessing what comes next. They are often curious and ask about the colors. At the end of the reading, some use the colors in our kindness craft activity to reflect the symbolism they just learned. The color changes are symbolic and tied to the meaning of each story. Pink represents love, yellow represents joy and caution, teal represents allergy awareness, green represents the environment, orange represents determination, and purple represents mystery.
While the firefighter’s rescue is memorable, the children I read to also connect deeply with the other kindness moments in the book, like Bajette giving her bike wheels to a veteran in need or raising awareness about allergies. Those stories really stick with kids and often lead to fun and thoughtful conversations about kindness and including everyone.
I truly appreciate your thoughtful feedback, and stay tuned because the purple mystery balloon hints at another story in Bajette’s Kindness Adventure. I can’t wait to hear your curious thoughts when it comes!
Warmly,
Claudia