For readers who feel a little lost or want to send their own creations out into the world, this whimsical tale celebrates the power of storytelling and connection.
A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful, creative child is grappling with feelings of loneliness or feels too different to fit in. This gentle, philosophical tale is about Bambert, a reclusive man with a hunchback who believes he is too small for the world. He writes beautiful stories but feels they are incomplete, so he attaches them to tiny hot-air balloons and sends them out his attic window. The book follows the magical journeys of these stories and how they are completed by the real world. It tenderly explores themes of isolation, the courage to connect, and the power of imagination. For ages 8 to 12, this is a beautiful, quiet story that honors the rich inner world of introverted children and shows how sharing our creations can build bridges to others.
The main character's death is a key part of the ending, but it is portrayed gently and poetically.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with physical disability (Bambert's hunchback and short stature) as the source of his profound loneliness. The approach is deeply empathetic and metaphorical, exploring feelings of otherness. The ending involves the main character's death, but it is handled in a gentle, poetic, and secular way, framed as a transcendent journey rather than a tragedy. The resolution is bittersweet and hopeful, suggesting that one's creations and connections offer a form of immortality.
Ideal Reader
A highly imaginative, introverted child aged 9 to 12 who appreciates quiet, philosophical, and fairy-tale-like stories. It is perfect for a child who feels different or misunderstood and finds solace in creating their own worlds.
Parent Prep
A parent should be prepared to discuss the ending, where Bambert dies peacefully. It is not scary, but it is sad. Framing it as his final story or a journey to join his characters can be helpful. The book can otherwise be read cold. A parent has noticed their child seems lonely, is hesitant to share their creative work, or has expressed feeling like an outsider. The child might be spending a lot of time in their own world and needs encouragement that their perspective is valuable.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will connect with the magical premise of stories traveling on balloons and enjoy the individual tales as mini-adventures. An older reader (10-12) will better appreciate the sophisticated allegory about creativity, the relationship between art and life, and the bittersweet themes of loneliness and connection.
What Makes It Special
Its unique meta-narrative structure, a frame story containing distinct short stories, makes it a brilliant and accessible exploration of the writing process. Unlike many books for this age, it has a distinctly European, fable-like quality that is philosophical and poetic rather than plot-driven.
Read plot summary
Bambert is a reclusive hunchback who spends his days writing. Believing his stories are unfinished without a real-world setting, he launches ten of them on miniature hot-air balloons. The narrative then follows the path of each story, detailing how it lands in a specific location (a war zone, a ship, a child's bedroom) and is found and completed by someone new. The completed stories eventually make their way back to Bambert, who compiles them into his book before embarking on his own final journey.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Bambert thought his stories were not finished until they found a real place in the world. Do you agree? Can a story feel complete even if no one else ever reads it?
2
Which of the ten missing stories was your favorite? How did the place where it landed change the story from how Bambert first imagined it?
3
At the end of the book, Bambert climbs into his own hot-air balloon. What do you think this symbolizes? Where do you imagine he went?
4
Bambert sends out ten stories, but only nine are featured in the book. What do you think happened to the tenth story, the 'Story of the Story'?
5
If you were to send a story of your own out into the world on a balloon, what would it be about and where would you hope it would land?
