I Have a Balloon

PreS-Gr 2—Owl is proud of his shiny red balloon. Sadly, Monkey does not have one, and it is all he's ever wanted. The balloon matches his tie, and it would make him so happy to have it. Too bad Owl won't trade it for a cute teddy bear or a tall sunflower. Monkey is persistent, but Owl won't budge. Perhaps Owl would prefer to have a robot, a picture of 10 balloons, or even a bowling pin. Owl isn't interested in any of these. Then he sees Monkey's sock, which has both a star and a perfectly round hole. Think of all of the neat things that can be done with a sock like that. Will Owl break down and make a trade with Monkey? And will both be happy in the end? This might not be the best choice for parents seeking a book about sharing. However, it is entertaining and the ending is humorous. Although the words may be few, they say all that needs to be said. The illustrations of the two main characters are simple but animated, especially Monkey. He has a hard time hanging onto a branch by his tail, soars up to the sky with his robot, and looks cool in a fez and sunglasses. Even though the message of sharing is absent, this is still an amusing option for all.