This book is suitable for primary aged students. It is about a friend who tells another friend a secret. But, the friend slips and tells one person the secret. Soon, everyone knows and rumors and lies are spread. This conveys a valuable lesson for young children, being that secrets maybe should be kept a secret. Or, if you are going to tell it, make sure you tell someone you really trust, otherwise rumors may spread. I honestly do not think the message the book conveys is extremely significant and I would not include this in my classroom library or use it. ( )

This story is written at a primary-reader level. It uses a balloon as a symbol of a secret to show what happens when a secret is shared and how it can grow and become out of control. The main character learns a valuable lesson of honesty when she finally confesses to telling the secret and is able to save her friendship.
This story is helpful to teach students the concept of honesty and maintaining communication in friendships. It encourages children not to share secrets with just one person because that is when they can cause harm. ( )

couplet rhyming format, black/white/red illustrations, ends book with reading/discussion questions "have you ever had a secret that was told by others?'
genre: fiction ( )

It is a good book because of the metaphor and the words at the end. As for the metaphor, the author used a red balloon to stand for the secret which becomes widespread owing to people's transmission, which alarms the readers that gossips will make the fact or the truth become unreal and serious. In terms of the other advantage, the words at the end makes the theme clear, which seems to be very educational. ( )

Age Appropriateness (Primary, Intermediate, Middle School): Intermediate
Review/Critique: This book is about one friend who told a secret, she accidentally told another person the secret and the secret got bigger and bigger until everyone knew. I think think this book is realistic fiction because it could actually happen but it is not based on a true story. The characters can be anyone and the possibility of this happening is large.
Comments on Use: I loved this book and plan to share it with my class one day. It is a good introduction to teaching about rumors, bullying, secrets, and drama.
Medium: Sketched in pencil then created electronically using Adobe Illustrator ( )