Review: Balloons for Tiger by Lori Orlinsky

Balloons for Tiger
by Lori Orlinsky (Author) Vanessa Alexandre (Illustrator)
Children’s Picture Book
ages 3-7
38 Pages

#BalloonsforTiger by #LoriOrlinsky takes an imaginative look at the tough topic of pet loss as colorful balloons travel from the hands of children to their beloved cat who has passed on. How can children begin to heal after losing a pet?
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Even for adults, losing a beloved pet can be traumatic. For children, especially those who have never been without the pet, it can be particularly difficult. Coping with feelings of loss is not something most kids are fully equipt to do. Without a lot of outside resources, author Lori Orlinsky did what most parents wish they could do, she wrote a book to help her children process the loss of their cat Tiger.

The book opens with a family releasing anthropomorphic balloons to the sky laden with messages of love. It follows the delightful characters on their journey across and beyond the world. They see many wondrous sights along the way and interact with fantastical heroes, like Santa and the tooth fairy who help them along the way to their destination, a place in heaven where the loved pets of several families have come to rest, often with balloons and messages of their own.

The rhyming story is one of adventure and discovery encompassing many themes of childhood. The art is vibrant and thrilling, sure to elicit many oohs and ahhs from young ones. Though it is a story of a sad occasion. The tone is never one of sadness but rather the excitement of a new journey.

In the back of the book are study questions that can be used in an educational setting as well as tips for parents to help their own kids deal with grief. It is a wonderful conversation starter and a book kids will be happy to come back to again and again for reassurance.

I received an advance review copy through IRead Book Tours for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Tell us about Tiger, the inspiration behind Balloons for Tiger.

Tiger was the sweetest black tabby cat! My husband, Brian, adopted her from The Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago when she was four, and she lived until she was 18. When we first met, she didn’t like me and would always hide from me. Once, she hid in a bedspring inside the mattress! When Brian and I got married and eventually added two daughters to our family, Tiger grew to love all of us. I called her my shadow because she always followed me wherever I went, and would sleep above my pillow. Our daughters loved having tea parties with her. She was the best snuggler.

How did a balloon release help your children cope with the loss of Tiger?

I wanted my kids to have a tangible way to let go of their grief, and I thought balloons were perfect because the girls could release the balloons and visualize them going up in the air.

How can parents use this book in larger conversations about loss?

“Balloons for Tiger” is a good “starter book” about loss. The book shows the “rainbow bridge” and depicts it as a warm, bright place where pets are having fun. I think this illustration will bring comfort to kids so they know their pets are not alone. At the end of this book, there is an educator guide written by a teacher and discussion question prompts for parents, developed by a licensed social worker. My hope is that “Balloons for Tiger” serves as a tool for helping kids cope with the loss of a pet, or any other loved one.

Join us for this tour from May 4 to May 31, 2021!

Book Details:

Book Title: Balloons for Tiger by Lori Orlinsky
Category:  Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:   May 4, 2021
Formats available: hardback
Content Rating: G for everyone

Book Description:

How can children begin to heal after losing a pet? Balloons for Tiger takes an imaginative look at this tough topic as colorful balloons travel from the hands of children to their beloved cat who has passed on. This book lets children open up their hearts and imaginations for a magical journey to the farthest corners of the world, where they’ll meet skydivers, astronauts, superheroes, and everything in between. As they watch the balloons voyage to the other side of the rainbow bridge, they learn to positively process their grief. Balloons for Tiger is a great tool for any child who has experienced the loss of a pet- or any other loved one, too.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ IndieBound
Mascot Books
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Meet the Author:

Lori Orlinsky is a multi-award-winning children’s book author who lives in Chicago. She was inspired to tell this story after her family experienced the loss of their beloved eighteen-year-old cat, Tiger. Unable to find books about pet loss to help her young kids cope with their grief, Lori wrote Balloons for Tiger. She hopes this book will help others, too.

connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ facebook ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:

May 4 –Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
May 4 – Welcome To MLMOpinion’s Reviews – book review
May 5 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
May 6 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
May 7 – Westveil Publishing – book review / guest post / giveaway
May 10 – The Pen and Muse Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
May 11 – Twirling Book Princess – book review
May 11 – Corinne Rodrigues / Booksnista – book spotlight / giveaway
May 12 – Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway
May 13 – I’d Rather Be At The Beach – book review / giveaway
May 13 – Chit Chat with Charity – book review / author interview / giveaway
May 14 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
May 17 – Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting – book review / giveaway
May 18 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
May 18 – The Bespectacled Mother – book review
May 19 – The Adventures Of A Travelers Wife – book review / guest post / giveaway
May 20 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 20 – Nighttime Reading Center – book review / giveaway
May 21 – Icefairy’s Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
May 24 – I’m Into Books – book review
May 24 – Reading is My Passion – book review
May 25 –Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / author interview / giveaway
May 26 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / author interview / giveaway
May 27 – Laura’s Interests – book review / guest post / giveaway
May 27 – I Read Kid’s Books – book review / author interview /giveaway
May 28 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
May 31 – Lisa’s Reading – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 31 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway