I expect to find good children's books in libraries and bookstores, but I don't expect to find them in cereal boxes. In the case of Ballyhoo Bay, though, that's how it happened. I bought a giant box of Cheerios when giant boxes of Cheerios were on sale, and I got an even better deal than I knew.
The little paperback copy of Ballyhoo Bay that was tucked inside is one of the titles in Cheerios' Spoonfuls of Stories program. Since 2002, Cheerios has been selecting five books each year to be featured as part of Spoonfuls of Stories. The books are free inside specially marked boxes of Cheerios starting each November. In addition to distributing more than 40 million little paperbacks, Cheerios has donated more than $3.2 million to First Book, a children's literacy nonprofit. All the more reason to like Cheerios, I think.
Now back to Ballyhoo Bay. Spoonfuls of Stories says its collection is most appropriate for children ages four to eight, which includes Henry, but Harper, who's not yet three, also is enamored of Ballyhoo Bay. It's easy to understand why. Author Judy Sierra and illustrator Derek Anderson have created a colorful story in which art and nature triumph. Judy Sierra also wrote Wild About Books, which is fabulous beyond fabulous (and illustrated by Arthur creator Marc Brown!).
In Ballyhoo Bay, Mira Bella teaches art classes to beachgoers and sea creatures. As she and her students prepare for an art fair, signs appear announcing a plan to raze the beach to make way for zillion-dollar penthouse apartments, a casino, and a parking garage that all will be off-limits to children and wildlife. Everyone is deflated, but Mira Bella assures them they aren't defeated, and rallies them to draw up a Plan B. Off they go to Ballyhoo Hall to make their case to the town council. The council is persuaded by the overwhelming support of Plan B, and the beach is saved. The art show goes on.
We like Ballyhoo Bay so much that I'm putting a full-size hardback on the kids' Christmas wish list. In the meantime, I'll be on the lookout for more sales on giant boxes of Cheerios.
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