Talking about dying is hard. especially for children to understand how to react to. It is important to know that if someone is sick and dying, young or old, they need their friends and family more than ever. Being there to share, laugh, cry, or even be silent helps in the transition from life to death. It makes it easier for someone to "float-away" like a purple balloon, because they know they are loved and will live on in everyone's hearts. I enjoyed this, but it made me feel sad and made me remember all the people I have lost fairly recently. ( )

The Purple Balloon was such an authentic read. I loved the text used, as it's very much true how a young child's voice. Dying comes in many forms and all too often - we are faced with old and young who leave us. Author Chris Raschka paints a unique and kind picture of all the many ways we can support each other as we grieve. ( )

This book made me cry. I absolutely know how this book could help children to cope with death on many different levels. It is to the point but also holds back in a way because it talks about the comfort and love that people have for each other when they are experiencing the loss of a loved one. This book would be a great tool to have on hand whenever you have a student struggling with the loss of a loved one or is having to deal with a loved one going through Hospice or on their death bed. I am happy I read this book, and I will keep it in my mind as a tool to use in the future. ( )

Raschka's book is great for children who have experienced death. It makes no difference whether it is the first death they are experiencing or not. It gives a great message that death will happen and no one goes through it alone. The comforting message really will help the reader deal with such a tragic experience. Personally, I did not deal with death as a child that I remember but if I would have, I would want someone to read this to me. The message is very comforting and I truly enjoy the way Raschka goes about both writing and illustrating throughout the book. ( )

I chose this book off of the shelf at random the morning we went over our novel, "Hana's Suitcase" and it felt like some form of literal poetic justice. It centered around the idea of death and how hard it can be to lose a loved one. The book addresses how it is hard for everyone, from the family and friends to the hospice nurses and doctors. The book goes on to say how death is hard when it's someone older, but it is even harder when it happens to someone younger. It shows the balloons all comforting one another by giving hugs, empathy, and crying together. The book concludes with a powerful message for young readers, "Good help makes dying less hard. Good Help makes leaving easier." Just the importance of being there for your friends who have lost someone in their life is so crucial and I felt that this book did a good job of showing this lesson without pressing too deeply into the sensitive territory that is death. ( )