The Red Balloon

ISBN 0385142978 - I owned a copy of this book for many years before I ever read it. I'm not sure why, beside that my son just wasn't very interested in it, other than to periodically peek at the photos. It's a wonderful story! Pascal is lonely. He has brought home strays in the past, but his mother doesn't want them bringing dirt into her house, so they have been put right back out. When he comes across a red balloon, he has no idea that it is magic - and soon to become his best friend! When his mother throws it out the window, it doesn't go anywhere. It hovers there until Pascal brings it back inside. Through the story, it follows him everywhere, even flying over the bus on the way to school. When a gang of boys become determined to take it from him, there's little he can do about it. And when they pop the balloon, he's devastated... then he sees an astonishing sight! Every captive balloon in Paris revolts. The balloons twine their strings together and lift him up and away. There is a review that refers to that as "taking him to heaven", but the book says he took "a wonderful trip all around the world". That difference might be the difference between the original story and the adaptation for the film, or might be the film viewer's interpretation of the story. Either way, it's a great book, and a beautiful (if a little odd) story, full of wonderful photos of Paris in the 1950s. A little something for everyone! - AnnaLovesBooks

This book was a childhood favorite of mine in the mid 1960s--introduced to me by my mother, a teacher of French language. It's a bittersweet tale --but ultimately it's an affirming book. I loved it so much as a child that I have always remembered it--and now plan to introduce it to my children. The photographs are beautiful and charming. My love of this book probably explains why I always feel happy when I see a big red balloon. A gem and a classic!

When I was a little boy, this story brought me incredible delight over and over again. When I saw this film as a young man in my 20's, it brought me delight again, letting me relive my childhood all over. As an adult, I just introduced the book and the film to my 2 year old daughter, and once again this classic story has brought me delight. My daughter, who is usually only interested in Elmo and Barney, stood riveted through both the pages of the book and the scenes of the film, as Pascal and his balloon let her imagination soar. I cannot recommend this story more than to say 'no child should grow up without it'.

As a very young boy, I remember asking my mother to read The Red Balloon to me a hundred times or more; something must have truly spoken to me in the story of this child with the ever-faithful balloon friend. On par with Saint-Exuperie (author of "Le Petit Prince"), the metaphors in this 'children's book' run a gamut of complex emotions -- from learning love for friends, to feeling different and expelled, a sense of loss,... but then ultimately reclaimed, finding joy in one's own self. There's sadness, but also understanding, as the balloon's 'life' goes. The lessons here are obvious ones, and I am glad they were imparted on me at an early age. I highly recommend this title to kids 3 to 8 -- particularly if they seem introverted or shy. They might not always be so, once they learn to let go! FYI, you may find copies of The Red Balloon currently (12/12/99) at your local Resoration Hardware; thanks guys! Oh, and don't forget to read to a child! :-)

This is a story I first fell in love with when I first saw the film as a child over forty years ago. It seems to grow even more special to me as the years pass. Both the book and the film capture the unique imagination and loneliness of childhood. The story paints a child's-eye view of Paris that few, if any, Americans have experienced. The photo illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. I gave this as a gift to my niece this year and I know that she will treasure this as I have for many years.