Interview with Claudia Colonna, Author of ‘Bajette’s Balloon’

An interview about Bajette’s Balloon by Claudia Colonna, presented by The Children’s Book Review.

Today, we chat with Claudia Colonna, author of Bajette’s Balloon. In this heartfelt interview, she reflects on her parents’ enduring legacy, the power of everyday kindness, and her mission to turn compassion into a movement children can see, feel, and share.

With a mission to make kindness more than just a word, Claudia Colonna created Bajette’s Balloon as a tribute to her parents’ generous spirits. In our conversation, she shares how their legacy inspired her “Kind Balloon” movement, why small acts can spark lasting change, and how she’s turning storytime into a joyful, hands-on lesson in compassion.

Claudia Colonna (CC): My parents left this world sick and undignified, yet they remained very giving and thoughtful of others through the end. Their Quality of Life, shown through giving and doing for others, was on full display. I have always been generous and proud of my parents’ generosity and kindness to any friends my brothers or I brought around. I knew they would make a difference every single time through their open hearts. It is my privilege to carry their legacy forward and give them the dignity they deserve. I’m proud and dedicated to this.

All I kept thinking was how happy they made the people who crossed their path, whether just for a brief moment or as a lifelong friend. I kept thinking about the impact this could have on people everywhere if I could spread it. So I started with a book, and now I am on a kindness mission. My great hope is that it will create a ripple effect, because even if people did just 10% more for others than they do now, it could make a huge difference. Studies show that small acts of kindness not only boost happiness for the recipient but also for the giver, sometimes increasing well-being for hours afterward. From there, it only gets better.

It is a natural instinct for my brothers and me. As different as the three of us are, that is the one thing that ties us together. I did not realize it was a gift—it was simply all we knew from being open-hearted. Over time, feedback made me realize this level of kindness is unique and special.

This kind of kindness makes me happy many days. I can feel good, even on a bad day, when I have made someone else happy or done something big or small to make a difference. It is such a superpower. I know kids would benefit from it, and I know they have kind hearts if nurtured. I believe bullying and meanness can be reduced through the consistent application of kindness.

This goes beyond the book. It has to. The book is powerful and a start, but it is not enough. It takes consistency and a natural, easy application. Lecturing and reprimanding kids is not effective, nor is it fun. Kids need to develop awareness and understanding of different situations so they are not mean simply out of not knowing.

Tell us about how you were “inspired by real acts of generosity.” What specific moments or experiences motivated you to write this story, and how did you translate those real-world acts into Bajette’s adventure?

(CC): My mother was always giving, to the point where I would sometimes get mad at her. I would buy her a special treat or something I thought she might like because I was raised to be giving like that, and she would, in turn, give it to someone else. It took time for me to understand that it was simply her giving nature and not an insult to what I had given her. It was really a special lesson and a unique way to learn it. I laugh wholeheartedly to this day, and I am so proud of her and those moments.

My father was the resourceful one. Very giving and generous, he made sure our friends never paid for anything if we were going on an outing. He was always solving problems for people, whether making connections, giving rides, or helping in other ways. Both of my parents were always grateful for anything done for them and humbled by it.

The first story in the book embodies both parents. My father loved talking to people of all ages, learning from them, and sharing what he knew, and my mom would give a gift. It is about human connection in a digital world, to learn from real experiences and people. The second story is about a disabled veteran whose broken wheelchair is fixed using Bobby’s bike wheels. My father would have driven him anywhere he needed to go to make sure he got around, and my mom would have given her wheels or made him pasta and meatballs.

The allergy story is about my younger brother, who is allergic to nuts, chicken, turkey, and fish. He was never left out. During Thanksgiving, he was always the first person my mom planned and cooked for. It is important for kids to understand allergies and the importance of being “left in” in any situation.

Story four is about gratitude for volunteers, acknowledging the time and heart they give. Story five focuses on the heroism of first responders and gratitude for their service. The theme is awareness of diverse people and situations. To be genuinely inclusive requires awareness; otherwise, it is just a bunch of people in a room. Understanding and nurturing differences makes inclusion genuine from the heart.

Tell us about Bajette as a character. What qualities did you want her to embody, and how does her color-changing balloon serve as more than just a magical element in the story?

(CC): My mom’s name is Barbara Jane, and it was not until she got older that I learned her own mom had given her the nickname Bajette. My mom loved balloons. I once bought her an Up necklace, the little house with balloons, and that became her signature in the hospital and nursing homes.

I thought a color-changing balloon could be a symbol for different situations: pink for love, yellow for caution and joy, teal for allergy awareness, green for the environment, and orange for caution and danger. I liked that each color represented a situation, and kids are always amazed when they see it change. It adds an element of excitement. I can picture my mom’s eyes lighting up when the color changes on the balloon.

Bajette is the protagonist, playful, funny, making light of heavy situations, and turning them around to a happy and joyful place. For example, the yellow balloon, which symbolizes caution for the man in the wheelchair, turns to joy when they fix it for him, giving him the happiest day instead of a very sad one without a chair to move around in.

This is exactly who Bajette is, the lightest, brightest spirit everyone wants to meet.

You chose to self-publish to maintain “high quality and full creative control.” What was your collaboration process like with illustrator Ed Hose, and why was it important to you that the illustrations be hand-drawn and AI-free?

(CC): Being able to choose my own illustrator who could carry out my vision for this book was the driving force behind self-publishing. I had a vision that the illustrations should tell a second story, as if a person could not read but could still follow and understand the story through the pictures. I wanted full-page, beautiful scenes. I wanted pictures that were more than just page fillers, and I did not want them to look like so many other books that can resemble each other through computer graphics.

Ed was a gift sent from heaven. After my mom passed, I had a grief coach, and in one of our conversations, I mentioned that I was working on a book motivated by her passing but meant to honor both of my parents. She happened to mention that her childhood friend from grammar school, with whom she grew up, is an illustrator. They no longer live in the same state, but she reached out, and I connected with Ed. It was an instant connection. Ed immediately embraced what I was doing, especially the three stickers in the book: one gifted to the child so they always have a happy superpower, one for them to gift, and two for them to gift to others. Ed’s mom used to give smiley face buttons to people, so she instantly connected with what I was doing.

Her process for starting our work together was a deep dive into my parents’ notes, letters, journals, and pictures from my childhood. She absorbed it all and poured her heart into the work. There were so many things that came rushing back when I looked at her illustrations, tiny details and bigger ones. It was remarkable.

She was so easy to work with. She wanted honest feedback and would change anything I asked for. There was nothing difficult about her. The collaboration and conversations were warm, welcoming, and so much fun. She was truly an honor and a pleasure to work with, and I am excited to do another book with her. I know I have one of the best illustrators the world has to offer.

Your book addresses a wide range of themes, from allergy awareness to environmental care to aging. How did you decide on these topics, and what’s your strategy for presenting these complex subjects in a way that’s understandable and engaging for Pre-K through 3rd graders?

(CC): One of my main goals is to bring awareness. To be thoughtful, you first need to be aware. To teach kindness, you must be thoughtful. And to be truly inclusive, awareness is essential. Without it, kindness can feel empty and fail to serve people well.

I wanted to include a variety of topics and stories that we should never shy away from when talking to kids. In any community, classroom, or shopping mall, you will encounter all kinds of people and situations. Kids should be exposed to this and learn to understand it in order to be kind and thoughtful.

It was really about showing, “Hey, this is just everyday life around us.” For example, the old couple. When I was younger, I loved spending time with elderly people because I enjoyed hearing stories from their era, which I found fascinating. In the book, we include Freddie’s Luncheonette, a place from my mother’s time. She spoke about going there so vividly that I could picture it clearly in my mind. I felt as if I had been there myself, even though it no longer existed when I was born. That feeling is truly special to me.

Allergies are another important topic. My younger brother suffers from severe allergies. His friends and their families were aware and made sure he was included, so he never felt left out. We also lived with a disabled relative and know many disabled veterans. Being aware of differences helps create a community around us where everyone feels included.

Kids are naturally curious and want to learn. They do care about others. If they are not taught about different cultures, disabilities, and situations, it can lead to misunderstanding, meanness, or bullying. Kindness is a powerful foundation, a real superpower for both kids and adults. Many adults tell me this book gives them something to think about.

You’re currently touring with your ‘Magic of Smiles’ program. What has surprised you most about children’s responses, and can you share a particularly memorable moment from your school visits?

(CC): Each visit is incredibly special, an incredible learning experience and carries a special story. If I highlighted a few, it would be:

My second reading experience was in a multiple disabilities class in my hometown. It seemed like I had their attention, but it was hard to know for sure until the questions rolled in with curiosity about the book. One student with speech challenges came to me with her last cookie from her snack and very clearly said, “This is for you.” The teachers, aides, and I all gasped with a heartfelt “awwww” in natural unison.

I did a 23-classroom visit for one large public school in Clifton, NJ. Three extraordinary experiences came from that day:

a) I walked into a classroom completely themed around kindness. It lit me up. The teacher explained that her brother-in-law had passed away, and smile faces are something she remembers him by. This book, with the smile stickers I gave to her classroom, really touched her heart and made for such a unique connection.

b) In an ESL class, I was answering a question about why I chose a book about kindness. I spoke from the heart about my parents and the importance of genuine inclusion. Nobody reacted at first, not even the teacher. They were taking it in. Then the teacher said, “What you just said is so impactful and so important for my students. Give me a minute to translate it.” She did, and suddenly they all reacted, they smiled, they gasped, they were excited. It was remarkable

c) Another favorite moment came when I learned the students were given tickets for being a pillar of society if they did something kind or remarkable. When I finished my presentation of the book, the reading, and a little bit of behind the scenes, I gave them all smile stickers. One student turned to me, gave me her ticket, and said I was a pillar of society. Then the rest of the class, whoever had tickets, swarmed me with them. I now have a whole stack. I thought it was incredible how connected they were to the story, how they listened, and how they cared. This is it. Kids do care. This is the evidence.

At one camp, after hearing the story about the man in the wheelchair, a student spoke up and said, “Wow, that was a very kind act.” Another, at the end, asked me about Mikey with the nut allergy: “Why can’t he have nuts?” Awareness is so important, and teaching kids about it in a natural, fun way helps it stay in their hearts. They do care about others once they learn about differences and the people around them. Otherwise, bullying and meanness can grow,  and it does not have to.

When we do the Magic of Smiles activity, where kids make their own faces on a balloon on paper, they instantly know who they are gifting it to and why. It comes straight from their heart, and they love to have an opportunity to gift something to someone special. I bring all the craft buttons, googly eyes, pompoms, feathers, yarn, and stickers galore. Seeing the creations pour from the heart always excites me!

Magic of Smiles is the BEST name for the Tour!

Teachers (like Natalie N.) have praised how the book “transforms kids by making kindness tangible.” What other feedback have you received from educators and parents about implementing the book’s lessons in classrooms and homes?

(CC): Sejal of Peacock Learning Academy in Wayne, NJ, has social-emotional learning as the core principle and foundation of her school. We had a deep conversation about the need for a book that teaches diverse situations, kindness, and human connection. We discussed further collaborations and activities to continue fostering this. Our thought partnership helps build that foundation for kids and parents. I cherish collaborations, as the activities, crafts, and book companions are endless for natural integration and loads of fun for kindness.

Erin of NY wrote to tell us that her 4-year-old daughter made a bin of toys to give to other kids after sitting with her to read the book.

One camp shaped Camp Kindness Day around my author visit.

One mom wrote that her 6-year-old son gifted the Magic of Smiles sticker to his classmate whose dad was in jail. Instead of being mean to him or bullying him about it, his kind heart gave him his first Magic of Smiles sticker.

Grandparents are involved too. I recently had one write to say that her grandson gifted his stickers and asked if she could purchase more. Of course, they are always free to book buyers and trademarked, so no one else can sell them or miscommunicate their special place on this earth.

You’ve set a lofty goal of making Bajette’s Balloon a global symbol of kindness, branding it as the ‘Kind Balloon.’ What does success look like in this context, and what’s your strategy for achieving this far-reaching vision?

(CC): I think there are many worthy books out there that teach kids good values, but they often stop there. My brand goal and mission is not to be a famous author just to be famous. I want the mission of kindness to be famous, not me. I want to be a reliable source of inspiration for integrating kindness and thoughtfulness into kids and nurturing their precious hearts. It is also inspiring for adults. Who does not want quality of life? Who does not want to turn the feelings of a bad day into something positive? It is not always easy, but it is attainable.

Through consistency from our book series to always free activity and craft resources and a relentless passion for reaching kids, parents, librarians, and teachers, it can be done. The stickers are trademarked, so they cannot be sold. The components, passion, and heart are there. The gears are in motion. It just takes reach and persistence so that kindness is not overlooked, just as the characters in the book are not overlooked.

I also started an Adventure of Giving. I have an abundance of things. I love to collect items knowing that I have an open heart to gift them, to share, and pass them on with a lot of love. Recently, I began something where I will gift something from my collection once or twice a month to someone who writes in with a story about kindness or an idea for a kindness activity.

Fortunately, Captain and Cat featured Bajette’s Ballon on Captain’s Corner, where Captain reads his favorite stories. They did 3 shorts. They get 1m daily viewers across their content on their YouTube kids channel, and I’m humbled that they shared Bajette’s Balloon with their audience globally.

Kindness activities pour from my heart and soul. You never know what will come up. The more reach I have, the more people will engage.

With your Instagram content (@bajettesballoon) and exclusive Magic of Smiles stickers, you’re creating a community around the book. How do you measure the real-world impact of your kindness message on young readers?

(CC): Feedback and stories. Sure, there are plenty of analytic tools and measures from sales to followers to book reviews, but the real magic comes from the feedback I receive during visits and the stories people write in. That comes straight from the heart. People are immersed in kindness, and this mission of being naturally good to others and being thoughtful. It does not have to cost money. There are many ways to give that are free of monetary cost. The only investment and true cost comes from the heart.

And from the Magic of Smiles balloon pictures that kids and even adults create and share with me! We encourage this with all our kindness might! 🙂

Looking ahead, do you have plans for additional books featuring Bajette or other projects that will continue spreading your message of empathy and human connection? What’s next for the “Kind Balloon” movement?

(CC): Great question and my favorite one to answer! Yes, book two is in the works and partially written. Ed Hose is ready to pour her heart into the illustrations and bring them to life.

Growing up with very generous parents, one little-known tradition was the celebration fairy. Often called the birthday fairy, this fairy would visit children who were not the birthday child, communion child, or graduate, so they would receive a gift and feel included. It was about making sure no one felt in the shadows or overlooked.

A friend of mine has two sons. One was having his Holy Communion, and the night before, I gave the other son a gift. She said, “It is not Greg’s communion, it is little Johnny’s.” I replied, “I know, this is from the communion fairy.” She laughed and loved hearing the story, knowing we come from a generous upbringing.

While I do not know exactly what will happen in book two, there are many ways to be thoughtful, kind, and openhearted, and I cannot wait to explore them in this series.

The books are beautiful, and I believe kindness belongs on every child’s bookshelf. Having a series of kindness books really excites me, but it has to go beyond the pages. Reading a story even multiple times is good, but teaching kindness without lecturing or reprimanding, making it fun and natural, is the key to adding quality to our daily lives. It must be consistent and come naturally, and that happens through activities.

There is much coming soon with more consistency. The activities, crafts, and ideas we develop will always be free. While some marketplaces sell similar items, ours on our site and in any marketplaces will always be free for activities and crafts.

Touring as much as possible, even virtually, until I hit the road in the next year or two. 

About the Book

Publisher’s Book Summary: Bajette’s Balloon — How far can a single act of kindness really travel?
Bajette’s Balloon is a heartwarming social-emotional learning (SEL) adventure about kindness, connection, and the magic that happens when we open our hearts.

A mysterious, color-changing balloon arrives and whisks Bajette off on an unforgettable journey. Alongside her new friend Bobby, she discovers how small acts of generosity can ripple through communities far beyond what she ever imagined. Mischief, magic, and meaningful lessons unfold as Bajette’s lost cat stirs up trouble and the balloon carefully avoids sharp edges.

Inspired by real experiences of community and giving, this story gently introduces children ages 3–8 to empathy, diversity, and important life themes like aging, disability, allergies, fire safety, and environmental care.

Buy the Book

This interview—Interview with Claudia Colonna, Author of ‘Bajette’s Balloon’—was conducted between Claudia Colonna and Bianca Schulze.