البَالُون الأَحْمَر
The Red Balloon
A Hayya Beena Naqraa story · Tier 1 · For ages 5–7
Cover page
البَالُون الأَحْمَر
The Red Balloon
🎨 Illustration prompt
A soft watercolor illustration of a small child with rosy cheeks and short dark hair, standing in a village square in a Lebanese mountain town. The child holds the string of a bright red balloon that floats above their head. Stone houses with red-tiled roofs line the square, and pine trees dot the distant hills. A few villagers walk in the background, blurred. Warm afternoon light, gentle blues in the sky. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 1
عِنْدِي بَالُونٌ أَحْمَر.
I have a red balloon.
🎨 Illustration prompt
A close-up of the same child, beaming with joy, both hands gripping the string of a shiny red balloon. The child wears a simple blue cotton shirt. Behind them, a village square with a small fountain, wooden carts with sesame bread (ka'ak) and roasted corn. Soft afternoon light, families strolling in the background. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 2
أُحِبُّهُ كَثِيراً.
I love it very much.
🎨 Illustration prompt
The child holds the red balloon close to their chest, hugging it gently with a soft smile. Their eyes are closed in a moment of pure happiness. Around them, a village fair — bunting strung between olive trees, a man playing a small oud nearby, a grandmother selling figs from a basket. Warm earthy tones, pinks and reds. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 3
يَرْقُصُ مَعَ النَّسِيم.
It dances with the breeze.
🎨 Illustration prompt
The red balloon bobs gently on its string above the child's hand. A soft breeze lifts the child's hair and rustles the leaves of a nearby fig tree. The child laughs, looking up at the balloon. Mountain village rooftops behind them, a sliver of Mediterranean blue in the distance. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 4
هَبَّتْ رِيحٌ قَوِيَّة.
A strong wind blew.
🎨 Illustration prompt
A sudden gust of wind sweeps through the village square. The child's hair flies sideways, a scarf on a nearby table lifts into the air, and the balloon's string slips from the child's fingers. The child's mouth opens in soft surprise — not fear. Loose petals from a bougainvillea swirl through the air. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 5
طَارَ البَالُونُ إِلَى السَّمَاء.
The balloon flew to the sky.
🎨 Illustration prompt
The red balloon rises up into a wide pale-blue sky above the village. Below, the child stands with their head tilted back, one hand reaching up but not grasping — just waving. The red balloon is small now, climbing past the rooftops and the church bell tower of the next village. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 6
صَارَ نُقْطَةً حَمْرَاءَ صَغِيرَة.
It became a tiny red dot.
🎨 Illustration prompt
A wide view from behind the child, who looks very small standing in the village square. High above, the balloon is now just a tiny red speck against a vast watercolor sky streaked with soft pink and gold clouds. The mountains roll gently in the distance. Quiet, peaceful, full of wonder. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 7
اِبْتَسَمْتُ وَقُلْتُ: طِرْ بِخَيْر.
I smiled and said: fly well.
🎨 Illustration prompt
A close-up of the child's face, gazing upward with a soft, tender smile. Their cheeks are pink in the late afternoon light. One small hand is raised in a gentle wave goodbye. The sky above glows with sunset — peach and lavender. This is the emotional anchor of the book: a quiet joy in letting go. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
كَلِمَاتٌ جَدِيدَة · New Words
| Arabic | How to say it | English |
|---|---|---|
بَالُون |
bā-loon | balloon |
أَحْمَر |
ah-mar | red |
رِيح |
reeh | wind |
يَطِير |
ya-teer | flies |
سَمَاء |
sa-mā' | sky |
اِبْتِسَامَة |
ib-ti-sā-mah | smile |
🗣️ Talk about it (for parent or teacher)
These are not test questions — they're conversation starters. Ask one. Listen.
- Have you ever held a balloon? What color was it? What did it feel like in your hand?
- The child in the story smiled when the balloon flew away. Why do you think they smiled instead of crying?
- If you could send something into the sky, what would you send? Where would you want it to go?
✏️ Try it (a tiny activity, 2 minutes)
Pick one:
- Draw your own balloon. Pick any color. Where is it flying? Over a mountain? Over the sea?
- Go outside and find the wind. Feel it on your face. Wave at the sky and say طِرْ بِخَيْر (tir bi-khayr — fly well).
- Look up at the sky right now. What's the smallest thing you can see up there? A bird? A cloud? A tiny dot?
A note for grown-ups reading along
The Arabic in this story uses full vowel marks (تَشْكِيل) so early readers can sound out each word. This is Tier 1 — the gentlest beginning.
Read the Arabic line first. Then the English. Or the other way around — whatever feels natural. If you don't know Arabic yet, just read the English and point to the Arabic. Your child will start matching the shapes to the sounds.
This story is also about a small, soft kind of loss — the kind that ends in wonder, not tears. If your child wants to talk about something they've let go of, listen. If they just want to look at the red dot in the sky, that's enough too.
Read this book again tomorrow. Repetition is the secret. By the third time, your child will be saying bā-loon before you turn the page.
— Hayya Beena Naqraa (هَيَّا بِنَا نَقْرَأ)