A BILLION BALLOONS OF QUESTIONS

A bilingual child progresses through the world surrounded by balloons.

Questions bursting to be asked float over Eva’s head, tethered by everything from the bedposts to the child’s wrists. Questions that can’t always be answered right now bide their time: “Who named all the colours?” “¿Qué vamos a comer mañana?” Sometime Eva’s parents are too busy to respond; sometimes Eva’s exuberance bursts and questions POP OUT! But, eventually, the adults in Eva’s life—Mama, Papá, Eva’s teacher Mrs. McGregor—help the child find the answers, or Eva dreams them up. Supported by a loving family, the irrepressible Eva knows how much they are loved, that Abuelita (“on-the-screen in Peru”) is glad Eva’s eating sopita, and that tomorrow will bring more questions. With a deft touch, Moreno tackles childhood curiosity, emotional learning, and a bit of science (outer space figures prominently in some of Eva’s questions) and shows that within a safe, loving environment, young people can flourish. The text is primarily in English, with some questions in English and others in Spanish, and some hard-hitting topics are introduced: “Why do some people have no home?” Vélez’s creative portrayal of Eva’s accumulation of questions adds visual humor. The colorful, whimsical balloons bob and weave from frame to frame, mirroring Eva’s endearing impatience. Mama is light-skinned; Papá, who is Peruvian, is brown-skinned; Eva is brown-skinned, and Mrs. McGregor presents as Black. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A buoyant tribute to a child’s inquisitiveness and the family that encourages it.