Bird, Balloon, Bear - Hardcover

Na, Il Sung

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399551557 ISBN 13: 9780399551550

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2017

Synopsis

A fresh and heartwarming new story from Il Sung Na about finding the courage to make a friend.
 
Bird is new to the forest, and he’s looking for a friend. Bear could use a friend, too.
But Bird is too shy to introduce himself. Just as he musters the courage to say hello . . . it’s too late! Bear has already found a friend: a bright, shiny red balloon.
 
Has Bird missed his chance?
 
From the acclaimed Il Sung Na comes a charming and beautifully illustrated story about courage, kindness, and friendship.

Peek inside the jacket for a special poster!
 
Praise for Il Sung Na:
 
"Na brings fresh energy to the familiar. With a coloring style that feels as if someone took a firecracker to a box of crayons, Na makes turtle shells as dynamic as a peacock's plumage." --The New York Times (The Opposite Zoo)

“Il Sung Na’s illustrative art is so joyous, so jubilantly colorful, it feels celebratory and poetic even when the story is simple and spare.” —The Boston Globe (A Book of Babies)

★ “[A] grand read-aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred (Welcome Home, Bear)
 
★ "It’s the rare picture book that, upon arrival, feels as though it has been around for years already; Na’s belongs to this group.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred (A Book of Sleep)

★ "Vibrant [and] whimsical.” —School Library Journal, Starred (Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit)

About this title

About the Author

IL SUNG NA is the author-illustrator of many books for children, including A Book of Sleep; Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit; A Book of Babies; Welcome Home, Bear; and The Opposite Zoo. Originally from South Korea, Il Sung studied illustration at Kingston University in London and currently lives in the New York City Area To learn more about his work, please visit IlSungNa.com or find him on Twitter at @ilsungna.

Reviews

PreS-K—Bird looks for a friend on his first day in the new forest. He spies Bear but is too shy to introduce himself. Before he builds up the courage to speak to the stranger, Bear finds a handsome though silent red balloon. Bear's play with Balloon is watched from afar by isolated, lonely Bird. When the wind blows Balloon away, Bird tries to rescue it, but the balloon pops. Bird and Bear now become friends and share great fun. Perspectives change on each spread, as does the placement of figures on the white backgrounds. The result is a dramatic pacing as the tale moves from richly hued spreads to smaller portraits of Bird and Bear on open pages. This simply told tale of unlikely friendships and resilience is as appealing as the creator's Opposite Zoo and Welcome Home Bear. VERDICT A sweet, endearing tale just right for sharing one-on-one or with small groups.—Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library

Edition details

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0399551557
• ISBN 13: 9780399551550
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32