The Children’s Book Review | June 11, 2014
By Sarah Mostyn & Steven Mostyn
eBook: 2167 KB
Paperback: 32 pages
Age Range: 3-7
Publisher: Sarah Mostyn(March 3, 2014)
What to expect: A Baboon, Whimsy, Curious Characters, Ryhme
“Once upon a time there was a blue baboon that lived in a blue balloon.” With this opening line, authors Sarah Mostyn and Steven Mostyn introduce us to the whimsical and engaging world of Harold, a distinctly colored baboon. Harold travels with his brother Gerald and although they try to keep to their routine of sipping tea at half past three by the sea, their balloon sometimes has other ideas.
In this particular instance, the balloon takes them and a cast of curious characters—including a cat, some mice, a mite and a troll—to the moon, where their adventures begin. On the moon, they meet another set of extraordinary characters, including raccoons, a panda and a cow. Through ingenious rhymes and striking visual cues, the authors create a simple yet exotic world. The characters’ varied traits can lead to interesting discussions at story time—what do readers think of the mite that likes to fight with the troll? Or the cat that likes to chase the family of mice? Such conversations can easily be the stepping off point for larger themes surrounding questions of friendship and fairness. Parents will surely be able to use the images in this book as cues for prompting thought-provoking and honest discussions.
The Blue Baboon in the Big Balloon is well suited as a read aloud book or for young readers. It will appeal to beginning readers because of its comical and rhyming text. The fantastical story line will captivate young readers and should easily hold the attention of most anyone.
Add this book to your collection: The Blue Baboon in the Big Balloon
Book Trailer
About the Authors
Sarah and Steven Mostyn are the authors of The Blue Baboon in the Big Balloon, their first self-published children’s book. They have developed their storytelling craft through the inspiration of their three young children: Jonah, Kayla and Daniel. They often sit together as a family brainstorming new, creative ideas for books, and enjoy retelling stories from their large collection of self-created family favorites.
For more information visit:
Read The Children’s Book Review‘s interview with Sarah and Steven Mostyn.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The authors of “The Blue Baboon in the Big Balloon” paid for this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …