This one seemed like a staid fairytale that wasn't going much of anywhere, but I dozed off while we were reading it and had lovely dreams. ( )

Princess Leora's father is called away, leaving his kingdom in the care of his evil brother. Her uncle plans to take over the kingdom, but with the help of the kingdom's wizard Leora finds a magical way to call her father back to rescue the kingdom.

The Balloon Tree seems to be intended for children in early elementary. It is relatively wordy, so it is better for older children who may not get bored as quickly. Children will likely enjoy the bright and creative illustrations and a lively plot. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and detailed. It has a happy ending, and ultimately good conquers over evil, which tends to be a winning combination in children's stories. This is a story I read often as a child, identifying with the female protagonist and loving the bright coloured balloons.

This picture book won the 1985 Merit Award from the Art Directors Club of Toronto. ( )

Phoebe Gilman wrote and illustrated many great books for young children including Jillian Jiggs, Pirate Pearl and Something From Nothing. The Balloon Tree was her first book. It tells the story of a young princess who is left in the care of a grumpy uncle. When her uncle threatens to take over the kingdom and imprison her, the princess must send a signal to her father. An amazing balloon tree produces millions of balloons and alerts the king to the danger. A beautifully illustrated, magical story. Don’t miss it!