Today Caramel reviews The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse, first published in 1956. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.
Sprinkles: So Caramel, tell us a bit about The Red Balloon.
Caramel: The Red Balloon is a friendly balloon and becomes friends with a boy named Pascal. Pascal is lonely. He does not have brothers or sisters, and his mom does not want him to have any pets. It also seems like he does not have friends at school. But the Red Balloon becomes his friend. They go to places together, and the Red Balloon waits for him when he has to go inside.
S: That sounds fantastical, but also very sweet.
C: I think so too. Pascal needs a friend, so the Red Balloon becomes his friend. But then there are some mean boys who try to take the Red Balloon from Pascal, and they chase him, and they try to blow it up. It is really sad, and I got really mad at those boys.
S: You are right, they are mean, and they are jealous I think. Pascal has a really magical friend, and they cannot have it so they want to destroy it. Pretty terrible.
C: But at least the end of the book is not unhappy.
S: I agree. The book has some sad moments, but there are lots of very happy and sweet parts, and the end is very sweet, too.
C: Yes.
S: The book has lots of pictures, and they are almost all black and white, except the balloon, which is bright red. What did you think of that?
C: I liked it. It made the balloon even more special.
S: I agree. We also watched together the film the book is based on. What did you think of the film?
C: It was good. But watching it made me even angrier at the boys. They were so mean!
S: Yes. Pascal is so alone at the beginning and he is so happy when he makes friends with the Red Balloon, and then the boys come and try to take it away from him.
C: I guess, like you said, they were really jealous. I mean, I’d love to be friends with a balloon like that!
S: But you have real friends, too, Caramel. Pascal does not seem to have any. So he needs it so much more.
C: Good point. Hey, Sprinkles, do you think we could put a link to the movie here so our readers can watch it too, if they want?
S: Sure.
C: Thank you. I think the movie is really nice too. It is not totally black and white, but the Red Balloon is the brightest thing in it, too.
S: Yes. I think it definitely adds to its magic. So all in all, did you like this book?
C: Yes. But now I am wondering what it would feel like to have my own balloon friends.
S: It would definitely be fun, I am sure. Especially if like in the end you had many many balloon friends!
C: Sprinkles, you are giving away the end!
S: Okay, you are right. I will not say more. Maybe this is a good time to wrap up this review anyways. What would you like to tell our readers?
C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!
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