Bob - Susan Sweet;Sara Sarhangpour

A deflated balloon who longs to float meets a friend whose kindness buoys him up

Bob is a bright red balloon who dreams of floating. Unfortunately, he’s feeling a bit … deflated. He spends his days hovering at ground level where he gets stepped on and thrown in the trash. He tries his best to be optimistic, but the other balloons scoff at him from high up in the sky. Eventually, Bob comes to a sad conclusion: maybe he’s just not a very good balloon.

One day, Bob hears an unexpected greeting from up above. Bernice drifts down to show Bob some kindness. She even compliments his lovely color and extreme stretchiness! Her gentle reminder that all balloons are meant to float is exactly what Bob needs to hear, and soon he’s floating up into the sky and inflating others with his own kindness along the way.

Accessible writing and expressive, bright illustrations make this tale of exclusion, self-esteem, and the power of kindness perfect for read-alouds and storytimes.