Friday, April 26, 2013

The Legend of Papa Balloon, by C.R. McClure (illustrated by Steven Kernen)



The Legend of Papa Balloon

Author: C. R. McClure
Illustrator: Steven Kernen
Publisher: Schiffer
Publication Date: March 28, 2013
Holy clumsy allegory, Batman! This book should win an award for Most Heavy-Handed Message (all but knocking Change the World Before Bedtime out of the running). 


So there's a land in which everyone worships light, as expressed by one of four different colours of balloon. Does that make ANY sense AT ALL? No, of course not. But it's meant to be a clumsy attempt to explain different religions all worshipping the same god (i.e. The Light). Like I said, this book is THE CLUMSIEST ALLEGORY EVER. Then along comes a mysterious stranger, Papa Balloon (I know, it SOUNDS cute, because it sounds like "pop a balloon" but that joke is never even made in the book). Papa Balloon has a--gasp!--CLEAR balloon and is therefore revolutionary in this balloon-worshipping land. Everyone suddenly wants his opinion on how to live their lives and his opinion then becomes the only one that matters. People from all four colour lands follow Papa Balloon into a clear balloon utopia. 

Have I mentioned that this book is just the worst? It's the worst.
Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from the publisher from NetGalley. I was not obliged to write a favourable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

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