✦ New: Balloonie and Bamboo — Twin Stories Special Edition hardcover is coming soon

Edition 2 · Picture book

Bamboo and Balloonie

The same gentle friendship, told from Bamboo’s side.

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Two sides of one story Welcoming shy newcomers Self-acceptance Kindness and inclusion Gentle giants

The story

It was Bamboo’s birthday.

Edition 1 followed Balloonie to the party. Edition 2 opens the red-roofed front door and lets you see the very same day through the birthday girl’s kind eyes.

It was Bamboo’s birthday. She never expected a little invitation and a brave new friendship to make her day so special. With a flutter of nerves, a gentle giant heart, and a little bit of courage, Bamboo discovers that friendship can arrive in the sweetest way.Bamboo and Balloonie · Edition 2

Told from Bamboo’s side of the story, this cosy tale follows the birthday girl as she practises her smile in the mirror, pads door to door with her invitations and waits, heart fluttering, for her guests to arrive. Will anyone come? And who is that shy yellow balloon tucked in the corner? Read both editions together to see one friendship from two hearts.

Sits happily alongside Balloonie and Bamboo and Azalea and Her Gentle Giants, where Bamboo first appears.

Curious how Mimi makes her books? Read her note on drawing A Wobbly Hug.

From the back of the book

Reading superpowers for KS1 readers

Tucked into the back pages is a list of little tips for growing readers. Try them together, one story at a time.

    Look inside

    Turn the pages of Bamboo’s birthday.

    A little peek at the opening pages: tap the page or use the arrows, and see where the story stops. Press ⤢ to see any page full size.

    Jump straight to a page

    Tap any thumbnail to open it in the viewer. The full story is in the book.

    From the back of the book

    The bonus pages after the story: tricky words, an activity, the characters and questions to talk about.

    Meet the friends in this book

    Who’s coming to the party?

    Tap a friend to learn their story, their favourite things and one little secret.

    Meet everyone in the world of Mimi Maple

    Words to remember

    Lines to carry with you.

    Two gentle lines from the story. Tap “Read aloud” to hear them, then try saying them together.

    Talk about it

    Let’s think more about the story

    Save these for after you have read the book together: the thinking questions from the back pages, for home, nursery or the classroom. Read them aloud together, or copy them for a lesson plan.

    Best after the last page: some questions talk about how the story ends.

      Tricky little words

      Tap a word to find out what it means.

      Twelve words from the story, straight from the glossary page at the back of the book. Discover five to earn a Bookworm stamp.

      0 of 12 words discovered

      Pick a wordTap any word on the left and its meaning will appear here.

      Reading tip from the book: use the Tricky Little Words page to help with words like “padded” or “fluttered”.

      Tap to see everyone up close ✦

      A little bit about us

      Meet everyone at the party.

      Meet all of Azalea’s gentle giants and her very best friends: Bamboo, Balloonie, Alita, Harriet the Hat, Confetti and every one of the party dogs.

      The birthday guests are Mochi the tiny black Frenchie with a curious nose, Spud the happy bouncy grey Frenchie, Missy the gentle Dalmatian with a spot for everyone, Nelly the soft cuddly companion, and Ronnie and Rosie, the lively siblings who love zoomies and treats.

      Your turn

      Write a reply to Bamboo’s invitation.

      In Edition 1, Balloonie learned how to write an invitation. In Edition 2, Bamboo learns how kind it feels when friends reply. Now it’s your turn to write a reply to an invitation!

      Fill in the blanks

      Now write your reply!

      When someone invites you, your reply can say: thank you · yes, I can come (or I’m sorry, I can’t come) · something kind or excited · your name.

      Can you come?

      Your letter

      Prefer pencil and paper? The printable includes Bamboo’s invitation, Balloonie’s reply and a box to draw yourself getting ready for the party.

      Try this at home

      Little activities from the book.

      Three things to do after the last page: one to write, one to meet and one to spot.

      Free printable

      Take the activity page home

      Free to download for home and classroom use. More printables for every book are on the grown-ups page.

      Read both sides

      One friendship, two hearts.

      Bamboo and Balloonie is Edition 2. Read Edition 1 to see the same birthday through Balloonie’s eyes, or look out for the Twin Stories Special Edition, which binds both stories back to back in one hardcover.

      Take Bamboo home

      Ready for the birthday bash?

      A gentle giant, a shy balloon and a party where everybody belongs. Read it together, then flip to Balloonie’s side.

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