The Remember Balloons

James has so many balloons! Each of them carries a special memory. Grandpa has a million balloons because he’s lived so long. James loves to hear about the stories in Grandpa’s balloons. But Grandpa has been having trouble holding onto his balloons lately. They start to float away, and James can’t catch them even though he tries. James discovers that he is now the one to share Grandpa’s stories.

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2019 Schneider Family Honor Award

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2019 Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text

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Chicago Best of the Best 2018

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Fall 2018 Indie Next

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James and Grandpa's shared heritage and stories of their loving family shine. What is clear is that their memories matter—to them and ultimately to readers. A moving and meaningful way to talk about a situation many families will face. — Kirkus, starred review

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Oliveros never sugarcoats the difficulties of dementia, but young listeners are most likely to note this mixed-race family’s gracious understanding of Grandpa’s troubles, as well as the joy they take in retelling his tales.— Booklist

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[The] distinctive look, combined with the simple, plaintive prose, offers genuine poignancy.— Publisher's Weekly