Mathilda and the orange balloon

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Balzer & Bray
Publication Date
[2010]
Language
English

Description

When an orange balloon floats over her world of green and gray, Mathilda the sheep realizes that she can be more than she is and sets out to convince the rest of the flock that anything is possible. 25,000 first printing.

More Details

Contributors
ISBN
9780061726859

Discover More

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-esteem," "self-fulfillment in children," and "self-esteem in children."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-esteem" and "self-acceptance."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "balloons (novelties)" and "animals."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subject "self-esteem in children."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subject "self-fulfillment."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-fulfillment in children," "self-esteem in children," and "animals."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-fulfillment in children," "self-esteem in children," and "self-acceptance in children."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-esteem" and "self-acceptance."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-esteem," "balloons (novelties)," and "self-esteem in children."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-esteem" and "animals."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-esteem," "self-esteem in children," and "animals."
These books have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "self-esteem" and "self-acceptance."

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These authors' works have the genre "picture books for children"; the subjects "toys," "boys," and "imagination in children"; and illustrations that are "muted illustrations" and "detailed illustrations."
These authors' works have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "toys," "boys," and "imaginary companions."
These authors' works have the subjects "toys," "boys," and "self-acceptance"; and illustrations that are "fanciful illustrations."
These authors' works have the genre "picture books for children"; the subjects "boys," "imaginary companions," and "imagination"; and illustrations that are "muted illustrations" and "detailed illustrations."
These authors' works have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "toys," "model boats and ships," and "boats."
These authors' works have the subjects "toys," "imaginary companions," and "making friends"; and illustrations that are "muted illustrations."
These authors' works have the subjects "imaginary companions," "making friends," and "imagination"; and illustrations that are "muted illustrations" and "detailed illustrations."
These authors' works have the subjects "self-acceptance," "imaginary companions," and "making friends."
These authors' works have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "toys," "making friends," and "friendship."
These authors' works have the genre "picture books for children"; the subjects "toys," "boys," and "self-acceptance"; and illustrations that are "muted illustrations."
These authors' works have the appeal factors action-packed and fast-paced, and they have the genre "picture books for children"; the subjects "boys," "imaginary companions," and "imagination"; and illustrations that are "muted illustrations" and "detailed illustrations."
These authors' works have the genre "picture books for children"; and the subjects "boys," "imaginary companions," and "imagination."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Mathilda lives in a small world with green grass and gray sheep. Then she spies an orange balloon floating in the air. She had never seen anything so magnificent. Suddenly, Mathilda has a new thought: Orange balloon . . . That's me! The other sheep laugh: You're a gray sheep. And you'll always be a gray sheep. But Mathilda disagrees. She identifies herself with the balloon and finds she can fly, and that she's tough like an orange tiger, and as warm as the sun. And if she can be an orange balloon, she can be anything. The message of empowerment may be a bit muddled for the target audience, but they'll certainly enjoy looking at the charming line-and-watercolor illustrations, as effervescent as an orange balloon. And even if little ones don't quite understand how a gray sheep (who actually sports a yellow glow) can be an orange balloon, they'll get the idea that imagination can take them right up in the air.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Powered by Syndetics

Publisher's Weekly Review

Corace's (Little Oink) illustrations are the principal charm of this quirky story about a thought experiment done by a flock of sheep. "Orange balloon..." says Mathilda, after one floats over her pasture. "That's me!" Full of joy at the magnificent sight she's just seen, she works to convince her fellow sheep that there's no reason she can't, in fact, be an orange balloon. The pleasures of Corace's work include the authoritative black outlines of the sheep, their creamy fleece and smashed-flat faces, and Mathilda's morphing into a tiger, falling leaf, and fiery sun, all of which embody "orange" to the sheep. The visual and emotional apex comes as Mathilda envisions herself as a soaring balloon, orange, puffy, and most of all happy. Her realization frees the rest of the flock: "Then the sheep realized-anything was possible." One envisions himself a sailor on a boat, another a yellow school bus, and a third a honey bee. De Seve's (The Duchess of Whimsy) reasoning may elude very young readers, but the sounds and feelings of the words will not, and Corace's vignettes provide satisfying clarity. Ages 3-6. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Powered by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1-Mathilda is the only lamb in her flock that wears a bell, the only one with flushed cheeks and a white face, and the only one with a big imagination. She doesn't see herself as just another gray sheep, and she is not one to limit her dreams, no matter what anyone says. Despite her dull surroundings, she envisions herself as a bright orange balloon floating happily in the sky. Ultimately, she inspires others to think big, too. The short sentences that make up the dialogue provide some dry humor. The ink and watercolor illustrations depict extremely fluffy sheep, a few clumps of green grass, and gray stones against a white background and are enhanced with the color orange once Mathilda starts to compare herself to the balloon. Very young children might not understand why the rocket, bus, bee, and flowers in the closing spread have sheep faces, but those who are older should be able to connect the idea of believing in oneself with the outcome of the story.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Powered by Syndetics

Horn Book Review

Young sheep Mathilda's world is filled with "Gray skies. Gray stones. Gray sheep, gray sheep, gray sheep." When an orange balloon floats by, Mathilda's imagination fills with color, as she realizes "anything was possible." Corace's uncluttered illustrations with lots of white space match the simple story and capture the optimism of the buoyant (literally) little sheep. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Powered by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

Refusing to follow the boring herd mentality of her grazing companions, a visionary little sheep uses her imagination to achieve the impossible. Mathilda's world of grass, sky, stones and lots of other sheep seems small until a magnificent orange balloon catches her eye. Enchanted, Mathilda immediately proclaims she, too, is an orange balloon. The other sheep laugh, warning Mathilda she'll never be anything but a gray sheep since she's not round, can't fly and isn't orange like the balloon. Undaunted, Mathilda happily proceeds to creatively visualize herself into a round, flying, orange balloon proving "anything was possible." Relying on black outlines, simple shapes and effective use of white space, Corace's precise watercolor-and-ink illustrations reinforce the upbeat message of possibility. She artfully contrasts the dull gray-and-green existence of the sheep with the alluring bright orange balloon as it floats across the pages to spark Mathilda's exuberant, imaginative and infectious flight of fancy. The unflappable Mathilda will tickle and inspire. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Powered by Syndetics

Booklist Reviews

Mathilda lives in a small world with green grass and gray sheep. Then she spies an orange balloon floating in the air. She had never seen anything so magnificent. Suddenly, Mathilda has a new thought: "Orange balloon . . . That's me!" The other sheep laugh: "You're a gray sheep. And you'll always be a gray sheep." But Mathilda disagrees. She identifies herself with the balloon and finds she can fly, and that she's tough like an orange tiger, and as warm as the sun. And if she can be an orange balloon, she can be anything. The message of empowerment may be a bit muddled for the target audience, but they'll certainly enjoy looking at the charming line-and-watercolor illustrations, as effervescent as an orange balloon. And even if little ones don't quite understand how a gray sheep (who actually sports a yellow glow) can be an orange balloon, they'll get the idea that imagination can take them right up in the air. Copyright 2010 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2010 Booklist Reviews.
Powered by Content Cafe

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Corace's (Little Oink) illustrations are the principal charm of this quirky story about a thought experiment done by a flock of sheep. "Orange balloon..." says Mathilda, after one floats over her pasture. "That's me!" Full of joy at the magnificent sight she's just seen, she works to convince her fellow sheep that there's no reason she can't, in fact, be an orange balloon. The pleasures of Corace's work include the authoritative black outlines of the sheep, their creamy fleece and smashed-flat faces, and Mathilda's morphing into a tiger, falling leaf, and fiery sun, all of which embody "orange" to the sheep. The visual and emotional apex comes as Mathilda envisions herself as a soaring balloon, orange, puffy, and most of all happy. Her realization frees the rest of the flock: "Then the sheep realized—anything was possible." One envisions himself a sailor on a boat, another a yellow school bus, and a third a honey bee. De Sve's (The Duchess of Whimsy) reasoning may elude very young readers, but the sounds and feelings of the words will not, and Corace's vignettes provide satisfying clarity. Ages 3–6. (Mar.)

[Page 47]. Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
Powered by Content Cafe

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 1—Mathilda is the only lamb in her flock that wears a bell, the only one with flushed cheeks and a white face, and the only one with a big imagination. She doesn't see herself as just another gray sheep, and she is not one to limit her dreams, no matter what anyone says. Despite her dull surroundings, she envisions herself as a bright orange balloon floating happily in the sky. Ultimately, she inspires others to think big, too. The short sentences that make up the dialogue provide some dry humor. The ink and watercolor illustrations depict extremely fluffy sheep, a few clumps of green grass, and gray stones against a white background and are enhanced with the color orange once Mathilda starts to compare herself to the balloon. Very young children might not understand why the rocket, bus, bee, and flowers in the closing spread have sheep faces, but those who are older should be able to connect the idea of believing in oneself with the outcome of the story.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

[Page 80]. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Powered by Content Cafe

Reviews from GoodReads

Loading GoodReads Reviews.

Staff View

Loading Staff View.