String Ball

K-Gr 3–Wordless picture books can be so surprising. The red balloon takes readers on a wild adventure as if it is a typical main character. But then, maybe the main character is the little girl who wrapped string and glue around a red balloon, making it sturdier for travel. Still, a case could be made that the kitten, who works itself into the balloon and begins to roll off the table and out the door, should be considered the star of the show. It couldn’t be the squirrel, could it? This is an appealing story that wordlessly conveys plenty of adventure, and by the scattering of all the clues, allows children to put the pieces together to arrive at a satisfying conclusion. Considering the characters and their part in the adventure will help readers create meaning. Reluctant readers can easily enjoy this book using an entirely different code than their fellow students. Making meaning is the point, whether it is achieved by decoding words or pictures. This would make a great writing assignment for all students, and it would be interesting to see what different conclusions are drawn.