From the creator of “Where the Sidewalk Ends”, “A Light in the Attic”, and “Falling Up”, an all new collection of never-before-published poems and drawings! Shel Silverstein’s poems will bend your brain and open your heart with their observant, childlike magic.
$19.99
Want to know more? Give us a call toll free at 877-969-9800.
One of the best qualities of our fearless leader, Jennifer Pope, is that she can walk a tradeshow at breakneck speed, and somehow spot all of the most unique, interesting, crazy, cool gifts that the ordinary eye might miss.
It’s one thing to “follow the herd” and stock what everyone else has—she takes chances on new vendors, so any time you walk into one of our stores, you’re likely to see exciting products you’ve never seen before. The Red Ballon is the go-to place for extraordinary gifts. Here are a few of her current favorites:
The Chicago Globe
New York? L.A.? Paris or Rome? Please. All true Chicagoans know that our city is at the center of the universe. This super cool globe, illustrating all of the great neighborhoods & landmarks—shows everything from Lincoln Park to Bronzeville to the Hancock Building, and everything in between. A great gift for a diehard Chicagoan or for a recent transplant to (gasp!) elsewhere. $52.95
Crepe Paper Flowers Kit
With winter drawing close, it’s time to start nesting and working on all those fun and creative projects you were too busy to get to during the summer months. Learning to make these crepe paper flowers is fun and easy—and will make a lovely fall and winter bouquet. Available in a variety of colors, $6.50
Make-Believe Felt Tea Set
You’ve got your dollies, your tiny table for four, and now you need our super cute tea set. The make believe table includes: 4 placemats, napkins, coasters, chalkboard invitations, chalkboard menu, hostess apron, carry case, chalk. Handmade in Nepal. $42.50
Scull and Crossbones Necktie
Aunt Susie’s wedding is coming up, and mom found you a great button down & pants, but you still need a necktie. Only the coolest tie will do, so give our Skull and Crossbones necktie a whirl. Dapper with a hint of punk rock, it will convert even the most rough and tumble boy into a proper gentleman. $29.00
Magnetic Comic Strip Kit
Attention: Young Designers… here’s a fun way to embrace your inner comic book artist. The kit contains six magnetic write-on/wipe-off background panels to draw your own scenes, one magnetic dry erase marker, two magnetic write-on/wipe-off speech balloons and over twenty flexible action-packed magnetics with special effects, brave explorers and cool vehicles. It has everything you need to make your own epic tales of The Microcosmic Universe on your refrigerator.
Dude: Fun with Dude & Betty
This cheeky debut from Pliscou and Dunne pokes fun at traditional reading primers while reveling in California surf culture. Truly non-bogus retro artwork in the style of 1950s Dick and Jane illustrations evokes a nostalgic sensibility with contemporary updates—including a notably multicultural cast of characters in several beach scenes.
Alphabetables
Another Chicago original—our super soft Alphabetables pillows are made of minky fabric, and embroidered with the letter of your choice, in the fabric of your choice. Machine washable, these 12” x 16” pillows make a great bedroom accent, and can be easily toted on the plane, in the car, to Grandma’s house, etc. Every time you purchase an Alphabetables pillow, you are providing jobs to 200 Chicagoans with developmental disabilities. Zipper back, insert included. $35.00
The book centers on Wanda Petronski, a poor and friendless Polish-American girl. Her teacher, outwardly kind, puts her in the worst seat in the schoolroom and does not intervene when her schoolmates tease her. One day, after her classmates laugh at her funny last name and the faded blue dress she wears to school every day, Wanda claims to own one hundred dresses, all lined up in her closet at her worn down house. This outrageous and obvious lie becomes a game, as the girls in her class corner her every day before school, demanding that she describe for them all of her dresses.
Wanda ends up leaving school and moving to the city. After she has moved, a dress design competition at school reveals that she was, indeed, telling the truth. Her winning entry consists of beautiful, detailed drawings of one hundred dresses, each exactly as she had described. Her tormentors are awed by her artistic talent.
Even though the book was written in 1944, The Hundred Dresses is a timeless tale that teaches an invaluble lesson about bullying and acceptance that children from any era can relate to.
Ages 7-12yrs
$16.00
Want to know more? Give us a call toll free at 877-969-9800.
Three fun books for primate lovers of all ages:
“Monkey Monkey Monkey” Cathy MacLennan
This is a wonderful read-aloud book, full of rhythm and movement. Its sing-song prose brings to life the adorable illustrations depicting lots of jungle fun.
Ages 2-6yrs
$14.95
“Monkey See Monkey Draw” Alex Beard
This is a fun story about overcoming fears and using your creativity. The monkey’s elephant friend teaches them how to finger paint, and the illustrations themselves are finger and thumb prints!
Ages 2-6yrs
$16.95
“Orangutans are Ticklish: Fun facts from an animal photographer” Steve Grubman
This book of gorgeous up-close animal photographs is chock full of facts that will fascinate young animal lovers, and includes behind-the-scenes peeks at how the photographs were taken.
Ages 3-8yrs
$16.99
Want to know more? Give us a call toll free at 877-969-9800.
Get a head start on your back-to-school shopping with great selections from our fall trunk show! With brands like Wonder Boy, City Threads and Morgan & Milo available for preorder, you’ll be sure to find cute fall and winter items for your little one. Stop by our Bucktown location to preview the clothing, or call us toll free at 877-969-9800. Order now and have your new outfits in time for school!
Look at all these tools! What can they be making? Tap Tap Bang Bang is a fun filled book for sharing, packed with colorful tools and fun sounds to read aloud with your little helper. Want to know more? Give us a call toll free at 877-969-9800. Or order online right now!: http://www.theredballoon.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&keyword=book&product_id=352
Ages 1-4yrs
$16.95
These oversized fleece balls are a must have! Packaged in 3, each appliqued ball has a soft ringing chime inside, perfect for playing catch, or just rolling around. For ages newborn and up, this superb infant gift aids in the development of crawling and walking! Priced at $32.50, these roll a bouts are machine washable. Want to know more? Give us a call toll free at 877-969-9800.
Nancy loves Bree’s new glasses. She thinks they look spectacular. (That’s fancy for great.) They look so spectacular that Nancy wants a pair for herself! This I Can Read! book is a Level 1 Beginning Reading book for chidren eager to read on their own.
We carry I Can Read! books in four different reading levels and multiple titles that are new and old favorites. Questions? Give us a call toll free at 877-969-9800!
Click here to buy this title now: http://www.theredballoon.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&keyword=nancy&product_id=347
In this enchanted and enchanting adventure, Minli, whose name means “quick thinking,” lives with her desperately poor parents at the confluence of Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River. While her mother worries and complains about their lot, her father brightens their evenings with storytelling. One day, after a goldfish salesman promises that his wares will bring good luck, Minli spends one of her only two coins in an effort to help her family. After her mother ridicules what she believes to be a foolish purchase, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, who, it is told, may impart the true secret to good fortune. Along the way, she finds excitement, danger, humor, magic, and wisdom, and she befriends a flightless dragon, a talking fish, and other companions and helpmates in her quest. With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude. Lin’s own full-color drawings open each chapter.
3rd-6th Grade
$16.99
Click here to buy now! http://www.theredballoon.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=37&product_id=346
This, Design Your Own Super Hero Cape, is a must have! Made locally in New Zealand, the kit promotes creativity and imagination for any child, as well as allowing your child to work on their problem solving skills. Recommended for ages 4 and up, the kit contains the following: plain superhero cape, craft glue and brush, felt sheets and shapes, scissors, colored pencils, and so much more. Basically, everything you need to be one cool superhero! I almost forgot, this one-of-a-kind kit is priced at $42.50! Questions? Shoot us an email at info@theredballoon.com