THE PINK BALLOON
by Nancy Shea illustrated by Elizabeth Halka
A girl learns to spread joy in the face of uncertainty in this picture book.
Young Katie and her family are all happy together. She loves dancing and playing on swings as well as sunshine and rain. But when Katie and her mother visit Dr. Heather, she tells them something upsetting: Katie has a heart problem. At first, Katie seems to think she did something wrong that might have caused it, but Dr. Heather assures her it’s not her fault. The unhappy girl and her mom stop by a store, where Katie receives a pink balloon, and she’s surprised that it improves her mood. Soon, she sees another sad person, and she gives him her balloon. When her mother buys her a new one, she repeats the process—and the recipients start giving balloons away to others, as well, creating more happiness. Katie’s initial sweetness may seem a bit saccharine to some readers, although they may still enjoy the retro feel of Katie’s poofy dresses in Halka's illustrations; overall, the pencil and watercolor art is beautifully detailed, with balloons skillfully placed for emphasis. Shea’s text repeats words and employs simple sentences to help emerging readers follow the story. All characters appear White.
An old-fashioned, sugary-sweet tale, although the message of spreading happiness is a worthy one.