More Than Balloons

Name: More Than Balloons
Rating: 6.30 (4 reviews)

Written by Lorna Crozier & illustrated by Rachelle Anne Miller

Board book

$9.95

$9.25

0 - 3

Reading age

Page count

AD190L

Lexile measure

Apr 4, 2017

Publication date

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What Does Bookroo Think of This Book

“Delightfully wistful, re-readable title in the crowded expressions-of-love category.”

How many original perfect rhymes are there for “balloon”? With lines like “More than the longest day loves June” and “More than a tuba loves a tune,” Crozier shows enough to make a unique addition to the crowded “how much I love you” category of children’s literature. Her various iterations of love are mostly intuitive, though why balloons love the moon in her line “More than balloons love the moon” is a little unclear. (Is it because they float into the sky?) Even where the logic is a stretch, Miller’s wistful illustrations distract readers from pondering such issues; in this instance, a dreamy bundle of balloons in company with a few stuffed-animal type friends float through a charming starry night, subconsciously convincing readers that balloons do in fact love the moon. Wispy lines on every page keep readers moving through the soft story, while the pink skewed color palette give it a sentimental feel. The inclusion of a Halloween page tempts you to put the book on the fall reading list, but doing so would be misplacing it, as other pages treat various seasons of the year, though not necessarily in chronological order. Creative rhyming and beautiful, busy illustrations make this story highly re-readable.

What Kind of Book is More Than Balloons

Reviews

B is for Bookworm

6.75

Such a lovely book! The words in this story are sweet and provide a lot of fun interaction opportunities with littles. The illustrations are fun, colorful and cute! I also think the quality of More Than Balloons is really great--the pages are nice and glossy! Most of all, I love the subject of the book ("I love you more than...").

Mom of Boys

6.00

Grammy

5.50

This charming story of the boundless love of a parent for a child makes for ideal bedtime reading. The creative rhymes and consistent meter are remarkable, as are the many details for spying and identifying on each page. There is a great variety of animals rendered in a warm palette of colors participating in a wide range of experiences throughout the seasons of the year. Plenty to discuss, and even use as a springboard for your own adventures.

Mr. Staccato

6.75

This board book has it all—cute illustrations, clever language, and a heart-warming message. In some ways, it's your typical "I love you more than" book, but Lorna Crozier found a way to rise above the crowd and create a truly spectacular book. One you'll love reading again and again.

The Book Snob Mom

6.50

Truly such a sweet and lovely book. Love the rhymes, love the message, love the adorable illustrations (espcially the hedgehog character!) and I can read it over and over and over again, which is always a major win.

Book Lists That Include This Book

Hello in There!: A Big Sister's Book of Waiting

Books about babies

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Books about 100 Hidden Gem

Books about parents

The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Lorna Crozier

Lorna Crozier has authored numerous books of poetry and received many awards, including a Governor General’s Award, the Canadian Authors Association Poetry Award, the National Magazine Award (Gold Medal) and first prize in the National CBC Literary Competition. An Officer of the Order of Canada, Lorna has read her poetry on every continent except Antarctica, and in 2005 she recited a poem for Queen Elizabeth II as part of Saskatchewan’s centennial celebration.

Illustrator

Rachelle Anne Miller

Rachelle is an Ontario-based children’s illustrator and designer. She studied design at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (more commonly known as the NSCAD University). After graduating, she worked as a graphic designer before launching her career as a freelance illustrator. As a designer, she has worked on everything from websites to international magazines–and, of course, children’s books! As Rachelle puts it, she is first and foremost a wife and mother who finds inspiration from her children every day.