In this wordless picture book, a little girl visits the Metropolitan Museum with her grandma, leaving her yellow balloon tied to the railing outside. However, it escapes with the help of a pigeon and the rest of the story follows the balloon's adventures in New York City while the little girl and her grandmother are inside. There are often three or more busy vignettes filled with activity and energy on each page. Adults may pick up on the fact that the balloon's adventures are often thematically matched with the sights at the Met (e.g., as the museum-goers view the Temple of Dendur, the balloon shares the stage at the Metropolitan Opera with Aida). The balloon has many wild escapades that show children and adults in silly settings throughout the city. This is a fun story with a lovely grandparent/child relationship. It won't teach readers much about famous paintings or about life in New York City, but it does offer lots of viewing for children and adults to share. Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.