“A Ball for Daisy” by Chris Raschka.
Schwartz & Wade Books, New York, 2011, 32 pages, Grades pre-school - K.
Wordless picture books are some of the most fascinating stories in children’s literature. Whereas most picture books have text, which tells readers as much as the drawings, wordless books must carry the story through the art in the work. As a result, artists must be doubly effective with their illustrations to inform and delight readers. While many wordless texts are designed for a preschool audience, others can be drawn to interest high school students. Chris Raschka has created a charming wordless picture book entitled “A Ball For Daisy.”
The book begins with Daisy, a young puppy, playing and chewing on a red ball. She rolls over on her back and holds the ball on her stomach. Next, she tries to balance the ball on her nose. Eventually, she pushes the ball and it goes flying away. Fortunately, the red ball lands on a sofa. After spying it laying there, Daisy jumps up on the davenport and lies down. Yawning, Daisy rests her head on the ball and falls asleep. But soon this happy interlude ends when the lady of the house brings in the dog leash. This excites Daisy as going for walks is always fun. The lady knows how much the red ball means to Daisy and brings it along. When they get to a park with a fence, the woman throws the ball. Daisy quickly chases the ball but it rolls under a fence. Now the puppy is at a complete loss of what to do. How do you get the ball? It is stuck behind a steel fence. Daisy collapses on the ground and looks longingly at the ball. Lucky for her, the lady reaches over the fence and retrieves the ball. Daisy is thrilled to have her toy back. But bad luck comes quickly. A brown dog runs in front of Daisy and takes her red ball. The other dog pushes the ball and runs away with it. Daisy chases the brown dog and they begin fighting over the red ball. All of a sudden the brown dog bites the ball and it explodes. His owner rapidly takes him away. But Daisy’s favorite toy is completely ruined. She lays down and looks at the ball and is so sad that she tries to shake the red ball to make it work again. But she soon sees that nothing can fix the red ball. With this she sits back and howls in anguish. Her owner picks up the wrecked ball and throws it in the garbage can. Now Daisy knows for sure that she has lost her best friend. She doesn’t know if she will ever be happy again. Her owner leads the crushed and saddened Daisy home. As Daisy lays on the sofa, the little girl in the family pets her. Then during a walk on another day, a wonderful thing happens to Daisy. It is so terrific that she leaps for joy.
What has happened? What causes Daisy to go from depression to happiness so quickly? Have you lost something that meant a great deal to you? What happened when it was replaced? What lovely present does Daisy receive? To find out, go to the library and checkout this delightful book, “A Ball For Daisy” by Chris Raschka.
“A Ball For Daisy” won the 2012 Caldecott Medal for the picture book making the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature. This is a lovely book to share with younger members of your family. It is easy to identify with Daisy’s joys and sorrows. The pictures are delightfully childlike and will make you want to bend down and pet Daisy. You will have as much fun “reading” this wordless picture book as your youngsters will have “listening” to it. It is great fun. Enjoy!
