World on a String

World on a String (2012) by Larry Phifer and illustrations by Danny Popovici

Loving and losing a balloon, is something many of us can relate to as easily as the childhood memory of having our scoop of ice cream collapse off its cone. As trivial as it might sound, it is a level of loss that at the time of our childhood, evokes sadness in relation to experience. The text in World on a String floats like a pulse and the dreamy reflective illustrations ooze emotion. By the end of the story, a sense of healing and acceptance arrive for the character and the reader. The memories and spirit of the balloon fill the world with happiness, without the presence of any physical object. This book would also be perfect for school guidance counselors, who seem to be approaching conversations around death and loss more often.