A fresh and heartwarming new story from Il Sung Na about finding the courage to make a friend. Bird is new to the forest, and he’s looking for a friend. Bear could use a friend, too. But Bird is too shy to introduce himself. Just as he musters the courage to say hello . . . it’s too late! Bear has already found a friend: a bright, shiny red balloon.
Has Bird missed his chance?
From the acclaimed Il Sung Na comes a charming and beautifully illustrated story about courage, kindness, and friendship.
Peek inside the jacket for a special poster!
Praise for Il Sung Na:
"Na brings fresh energy to the familiar. With a coloring style that feels as if someone took a firecracker to a box of crayons, Na makes turtle shells as dynamic as a peacock's plumage." --The New York Times (The Opposite Zoo)
“Il Sung Na’s illustrative art is so joyous, so jubilantly colorful, it feels celebratory and poetic even when the story is simple and spare.” —The Boston Globe (A Book of Babies)
★ “[A] grand read-aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred (Welcome Home, Bear)
★ "It’s the rare picture book that, upon arrival, feels as though it has been around for years already; Na’s belongs to this group.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred (A Book of Sleep) ★ "Vibrant [and] whimsical.” —School Library Journal, Starred (Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit)
★ "As simple and soft as a hug—and as reassuring." —Kirkus, starred
Praise for Il Sung Na:
“Il Sung Na’s illustrative art is so joyous, so jubilantly colorful, it feels celebratory and poetic even when the story is simple and spare.” —The Boston Globe (A Book of Babies)
★ “[A] grand read-aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred (Welcome Home, Bear)
★ "It’s the rare picture book that, upon arrival, feels as though it has been around for years already; Na’s belongs to this group.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred (A Book of Sleep) ★ "Vibrant [and] whimsical.” —School Library Journal, Starred (Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit)
Il Sung Na is the author-illustrator of many books for children, including A Book of Sleep; Bird, Balloon, Bear; That's My Carrot, and A Book of Babies, all of which received at least one starred review. The New York Times has praised that Il Sung "brings fresh energy to the familiar." Originally from South Korea, Il Sung studied illustration at Kingston University in London, and now lives in Kansas City with his wife, where he spends time teaching illustration courses at the Kansas City Art Institute.
View titles by Il Sung Na
A fresh and heartwarming new story from Il Sung Na about finding the courage to make a friend. Bird is new to the forest, and he’s looking for a friend. Bear could use a friend, too. But Bird is too shy to introduce himself. Just as he musters the courage to say hello . . . it’s too late! Bear has already found a friend: a bright, shiny red balloon.
Has Bird missed his chance?
From the acclaimed Il Sung Na comes a charming and beautifully illustrated story about courage, kindness, and friendship.
Peek inside the jacket for a special poster!
Praise for Il Sung Na:
"Na brings fresh energy to the familiar. With a coloring style that feels as if someone took a firecracker to a box of crayons, Na makes turtle shells as dynamic as a peacock's plumage." --The New York Times (The Opposite Zoo)
“Il Sung Na’s illustrative art is so joyous, so jubilantly colorful, it feels celebratory and poetic even when the story is simple and spare.” —The Boston Globe (A Book of Babies)
★ “[A] grand read-aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred (Welcome Home, Bear)
★ "It’s the rare picture book that, upon arrival, feels as though it has been around for years already; Na’s belongs to this group.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred (A Book of Sleep) ★ "Vibrant [and] whimsical.” —School Library Journal, Starred (Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit)
Reviews
★ "As simple and soft as a hug—and as reassuring." —Kirkus, starred
Praise for Il Sung Na:
“Il Sung Na’s illustrative art is so joyous, so jubilantly colorful, it feels celebratory and poetic even when the story is simple and spare.” —The Boston Globe (A Book of Babies)
★ “[A] grand read-aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred (Welcome Home, Bear)
★ "It’s the rare picture book that, upon arrival, feels as though it has been around for years already; Na’s belongs to this group.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred (A Book of Sleep) ★ "Vibrant [and] whimsical.” —School Library Journal, Starred (Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit)
Author
Il Sung Na is the author-illustrator of many books for children, including A Book of Sleep; Bird, Balloon, Bear; That's My Carrot, and A Book of Babies, all of which received at least one starred review. The New York Times has praised that Il Sung "brings fresh energy to the familiar." Originally from South Korea, Il Sung studied illustration at Kingston University in London, and now lives in Kansas City with his wife, where he spends time teaching illustration courses at the Kansas City Art Institute.
View titles by Il Sung Na
