The Golden Balloon

The Golden Balloon – “- But I’m a balloon just like you” , it said hesitantly to the round balloons that were looking from up high and were laughing. It was different from the rest, with a rare, almost gold colour. It had every right to be proud of its appearance but it had yet to realize how beautiful and special it was. A story about being different, being proud of who you are, and ignoring others who don’t appreciate you. The book includes some great activities to make from recycled items, and literacy exercises.

By: Athanasia Gaitanidou

Text and Images from The Golden Balloon

here were once in a warehouse ten beautiful shiny, full of colour balloons, all of the same round shape! They were inflated and tied up with cords fastened to a base. They were so beautiful! They even admired themselves in the mirror of the warehouse!

– How pretty we are! Look at all these colours!!

– I heard we are going to be decorating the party of a boy.

– We’ll surely dazzle the children that will be there!

One of the balloons looked down and saw something that attracted everyone’s attention.

– Hey, who are you? shouted the balloon to what it could see but could not make out.

– I’m a balloon too! it said from where it was, lying on the floor.

It was really different from the rest of them; long in shape and very thin, with a colour unlike the others, that of almost gold. It was inflated and abandoned on the floor.

– Ha, ha! Listen guys, it’s a balloon! answered one of the tied balloons and the rest of them burst into laughter.

– And what kind of balloon are you, all long and thin like this? How will the kids hold you and play with you?

– But I…

– Surely, the clown that inflated us moments ago made a mistake and that’s why he abandoned you. You must be the only one in the world with such a shape. Tough luck kid…

The balloon became very sad. It coyly looked one more time at the balloons hanging directly above it and felt discontent. Why should it have been created so different from the others? It started thinking that it was really ugly as well. It is unfair it thought, being a balloon that didn’t have a nice colour and could not be used in anything… There must have been a mistake at the manufacturing plant.

– And what kind of colour is this? It’s the first time that we have seen such a colour, went on mocking the round
balloons.

<end of sample>

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