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THREE MAGIC BALLOONS

Name: THREE MAGIC BALLOONS
Author: Julianna Margulies
ISBN: 978-1-101-93523-1

by Julianna Margulies & Paul Margulies ; illustrated by Grant Shaffer ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 10, 2016

Tender, winsome, and loving.

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Three young sisters are granted a magical reward for their generosity.

Every week the sisters and their father visit the children’s zoo. Dad gives them money to buy anything they want, and, on every visit, they always choose to purchase food for the animals. The balloon seller has been watching them and gives them each a balloon. He instructs them to tie the balloons to their beds before going to sleep, and something magical and wonderful will happen. That night their beds take flight, through the window, past the clouds, and up to the stars. They meet three angels and are led to a wondrous place, filled with color and sparkling light, where they sing the night away. They drift down to Earth with birds of every color easing their return and gently helping them land right back in their own home. Feathers representing each girl commemorate their journey. Julianna Margulies retells the tale as she remembers her father, Paul, telling it, employing language and tone that make even the most magical events entirely believable while maintaining a gentle, flowing pace. Shaffer’s bright, swirling illustrations enhance and enlarge the action. Those three pointy-nosed, color-coordinated little dark-haired white girls and their matching angels, balloons, and feathers are charming. There’s an innocence here that never becomes preachy or overly sweet.

Tender, winsome, and loving. (author’s introduction) (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: May 10, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-101-93523-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS FICTION

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THE PUMPKIN THIEF

From the Leaf Thief series

by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2026

More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.

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Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.

Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.

More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: July 28, 2026

ISBN: 9781464268076

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SUN THIEF
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SNOW THIEF
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater

- BOOK REVIEW
THE BISON AND THE BUTTERFLY
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff

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I AM SOMEBODY

by Nyasha Williams ; illustrated by Ashley Evans ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2023

Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world.

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Be a “somebody” who makes a difference!

A Black child witnesses various transgressions over the course of a day. Noticing trash on the walk to the bus stop, the young narrator thinks, “Somebody should do something about that.” Two students push their way ahead of everyone else in order to get good seats on the school bus, prompting the child to muse, “Somebody should speak up about that.” Throughout the day, the child notices examples of bullying and unfairness. These seemingly minor infractions start mounting. Finally, when the protagonist’s teacher tells the students that it’s snack time, the narrator notices that some students don’t have anything to eat. Instead of wishing for a “somebody,” the perceptive pupil realizes, “I am Somebody” and shares food with the others. The epiphany doesn’t stop there. When the narrator arrives home and notices there are toys everywhere but Mom is on a work call, the child responds to Mom’s request for help by cleaning up the mess. Accompanied by simple yet expressive illustrations, this is a loving and much-needed story that encourages kids to make a difference; pair it with Joshunda Sanders’ I Can Write the World (2019), illustrated by Charly Palmer. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world. (Picture book. 4-8)