Yellow Ball
on Goodreads (160)
What’s inside...
Catch. Throw. Uh-oh. The yellow ball is forgotten at the edge of the water. Little by little, so no one notices, the ball floats out to sea. All alone, it travels above the fish and below the gulls, and drifts into a storm. Tossed by waves all through the night, it sails ashore next day to a hug and a home. Molly Bang's luminous pastels and gentle, rhythmic text tell a story that is both exciting and reassuring. Together, pictures and text are at once a lyrical adventure and an invitation to beach lovers and ocean gazers to journey far from shore and explore the wide-open sea. This well-loved classic returns in a 25th Anniversary Edition which will continue to delight children for another twenty-five years.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-6
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the yellow ball felt being tossed by the waves?
What adventures can you imagine the yellow ball had at sea?
Why do you think the yellow ball wanted to return to the child?
How did the pictures help tell the story of the yellow ball’s journey?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to describe their favorite part of the yellow ball’s journey and ask why it stood out to them.
Discuss the emotions the yellow ball might have felt during its adventure, promoting empathy and understanding.
Invite your child to draw a picture of another adventure the yellow ball could go on, using details from the book to inspire their creativity.
Use the illustrations in the book to ask your child to point out different weather conditions and discuss how that might affect the yellow ball’s journey.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: In 'Yellow Ball,' the ball embarks on a journey across the sea, facing various challenges. Despite the tough journey, the ball floats back to shore, demonstrating resilience.
Real-World Application: Children learn that, like the Yellow Ball, they can overcome obstacles and challenges they face in their own lives.
Example Lesson: Adventure and Exploration
Explanation: The journey of the Yellow Ball across different landscapes ignites curiosity and a sense of adventure.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to explore their surroundings and appreciate new experiences, boosting their curiosity and understanding of the world.
Example Lesson: Change and Adaptation
Explanation: As the Yellow Ball travels through changing environments, it adapts to each new setting, reflecting the importance of adapting to change.
Real-World Application: Children learn to be flexible and adapt to new classrooms, friendships, and other changes in their environment.
Example Lesson: Persistence
Explanation: The ball’s continuous journey despite setbacks highlights the theme of persistence.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of persisting with tasks or situations, even when they become challenging.
Example Lesson: Loneliness and Connection
Explanation: Initially, the ball is separated from its owner, symbolizing loneliness, but its return is a joyful reunion, underscoring the importance of connectedness.
Real-World Application: Children understand the importance of relationships and the joy of reuniting with loved ones after a separation or day at school.