A Ball for Daisy
(Caldecott Medal Winner)
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This charming, wordless book vibrantly explores the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring.
A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST PICTURE BOOK OF THE CENTURY
“Raschka’s genius lies in capturing the essence of situations that are deeply felt by children.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
Daisy is a dog whose world revolves around her favorite toy ball. She always has it with her—on walks, during naps on the couch, even on visits to the local dog park. But when another dog at the park accidentally pops Daisy’s ball, her sadness at the loss is overwhelming.
Expertly and wordlessly told through gorgeous watercolor illustrations, Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka has created a comforting narrative to help children navigate feelings of loss, sadness, and uncertainty. His illustrations powerfully portray Daisy’s emotions, and the satisfying, cheerful ending will appeal to young dog lovers, teachers, and parents of children who are missing something special.
With impressionistic artwork and a positive message at its core, A Ball for Daisy is an affectionate story that shows how embracing change and forgiveness can result in beautiful new beginnings.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In a wordless book with gentle, dreamlike spreads, Daisy, a feisty, black-eared dog plays with a beloved red ball indoors and out, before a climactic encounter with another dog in the park. Working loosely in ink, watercolor, and gouache, Caldecott-winner Raschka (The Hello, Goodbye Window) alternates between large closeups of Daisy curled up with the ball on a sofa, looking nervous when the ball lands behind a fence and smaller panels for action scenes. Raschka conveys a bevy of canine moods (ecstatic, expectant, downtrodden) with brush strokes reminiscent of calligraphy, while the red ball adds striking contrast. When a brown dog causes the ball to pop, Daisy stares at it, nudges it, sniffs it, and shakes it in her mouth before gazing helplessly at her owner. But returning to the park later, Daisy s forlorn expression turns gleeful as the same brown dog reappears with a blue ball, letting Daisy take it home. Readers should relate to Daisy s sadness over the loss of her treasured object while understanding that such losses can sometimes lead to unexpected gains maybe even a friend. Ages 3 7.
