Iris on Books is one of my favourite blogs for reviews of fiction for adults. Iris tends to review classics and forgotten classics, books about and written by women, with a focus that I particularly like on world literature.
For the month of June, Iris (who happens to be Dutch by birth but currently living in Sweden) is hosting a special event focussing on Dutch literature. I’ve been meaning to write about our favourite Dutch books forever and a day but have kept putting it off – I have so many I want to share with you that it’s always seemed like too big a project to undertake. However, inspired by A Month of Dutch Literature, I’m now going to jump in and share the best of translated Dutch children’s picture books with you over the next few weeks.
Of course, this fits in quite well with my Reading Round Europe project for this year. It’s been too long since we last did a little bit of travelling! I’ve definitely got itchy feet and today’s book is the perfect read in these circumstances.
As with many brilliant picture books, the core idea behind The Yellow Balloon by Charlotte Dematons is incredibly simple; A balloon is let go of and it floats around the world. There could hardly be a barer basic storyline to this entirely wordless book. Despite, and perhaps also because of this, Yellow Balloon is a tour de force of both storytelling and illustration, a book your children will spend hours with, a book I’ll wager you’ll pick up after the kids are in bed, to look for secret clues and take part in your own flights of imagination.
What makes this book so brilliant?
Not entirely unlike the magnificent Anno’s Journey, The Yellow Balloon is a wonderful book which will take you on a tremendous journey, although in its scope and style The Yellow Balloon is more like a fairy tale symphony to Anno’s (beguiling but less romantic) baroque invention.
To sum up: Let yourself have your breath taken away. Be immersed in 1001 different, amazing, intriguing stories. Treat yourself to this incredibly beautiful, imaginative and inspiring book!
As ever wanting to turn the book into real life we played “hunt the yellow balloon” in our own home.
We took it in turns to hide the balloon and then the rest of us had to seek it.
An incredibly simple game but one that kept us playing and laughing all afternoon.
Whilst hunting our yellow balloon we had on in the background:
Other activities which could be fun alongside reading The Yellow Balloon include:
Don’t forget to visit Iris on Books before you leave the computer today – she’s a great reviewer and I’m sure you’ll find something interesting there, Dutch or otherwise 🙂
Disclosure: The Yellow Balloon was provided to me gratis by the publisher. This review, however, reflects my own and honest opinion.
ally
Hello
Reading your blog is costing me waaaay too much money – I want to order everything you rave about!!!
Our post card arrived today – thankyou.
We love Emily’s books and Richard Scarry’s and I will hunt out the other one for bedtime reading
xxx
Even in Australia
This reminds me of The Umbrella by the Schuberts. I’m not sure if they are Dutch as well. I vaguely remember you discussing their work on another post or in the comments as well…
Even in Australia recently posted..Right Up My Alley – And Yours
Zoe
Sorry, Ally, wish I could give out book tokens with my reviews!
Even in Australia, funnily enough The Umbrella is published by the same US publisher – Lemniscaat USA – highly recommend them, they’ve got lots of gorgeous books.
Zoe recently posted..Flying high with a yellow balloon
Susan Stephenson, the Book Chook
We are going to Europe next year. It suddenly occurs to me that I am going to have a huge problem with excess baggage or else a large postal bill. The Yellow Balloon is now on my must-have list. PLEASE don’t tell me about any more great books, Zoe!
Susan Stephenson, the Book Chook recently posted..Visual Literacy – Play with Images at Iaza
Zoe
Maybe, Susan, you could commandeer a hot air balloon to take your books back 🙂
Zoe recently posted..Flying high with a yellow balloon
Ali B
Lovely description of the book! I love picture books that really encourage readers to examine the pictures very closely; the Ahlberg’s Each Peach Pear Plum for example, where you have to find the character from the previous page. Wonderful for new readers.
Ali B recently posted..Poor kids
Kerri
Sounds like a fabulous book! I enjoyed reading your post and just reserved the book at our library! I also like that you included an activity and music with your book. Thanks so much for sharing the link!
Isil
Looks like a beautiful book! Also thanks for pointing out M.Rosen’s bedtime story on twitter,we really enjoyed them 🙂
Isil recently posted..Reading Nook Wall Art
An Overview of Posts for Dutch Literature Month (1) | Iris on Books
[…] from Playing by the Book writes about the children’s book “Flying High with a Yellow Balloon” by Charlotte Dematons. A book I hadn’t heard about before, but that looks like a lot […]