Book Review: A Ball for Daisy

By: Chris Raschka

Published by: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-375-85861-1

Plot Summary

Daisy is a dog who loves playing with her ball. It is always by her side, even when she is sleeping. One day Daisy goes on a walk where her ball is lost behind a fence. Her owner retrieves it but another dog starts playing with the ball and ends up popping it. Daisy is heartbroken and goes home. The next day the owner of the dog who popped the ball gives her a new ball and she and the other dog play with it. Daisy takes her new ball home and is happy again. 

Critical Analysis

A Ball for Daisy is Chris Raschka’s wordless tale of a dog named Daisy and the love of her life, a red ball. Daisy is a lovable main character whose emotions are easily portrayed through her vibrant facial expressions. The storyline is one that a young child would easily follow and be able to relate to- that of having a toy so beloved that they spend all their time with it, both waking and sleeping. The action is ramped up when the ball is lost behind the fence, but Daisy’s owner comes to the rescue, only for tragedy to strike on the next page. The story’s climax occurs when another dog pops Daisy’s ball while Daisy is trying to get the ball back from the dog. 

Setting plays an important part in the story. The beginning of the book all takes place in Daisy’s home and makes the reader feel like this is a safe and happy spot for Daisy and her ball. When Daisy goes on a walk with her owner, the setting changes to the sidewalk outside of her house and there is a sense of adventure that is provided with that change of setting. There is some uncertainty that children would recognize in taking their prized possession outside of their homes. 

After Daisy’s ball breaks, she is comforted by her owner but sleeps alone. When the owner of the other dog gives her a new ball, the conflict is resolved and both Daisy and her owner make new friends. The theme of the book shows that there are things that are even more fun and valuable than possessions, no matter how loved they may be.

Awards Won

Caldecott Award- 2012

Review Excerpts

From The Horn Book: Caldecott Calling, by Lolly Robinson, November 11, 2011

"Daisy's joy and sorrow are shown magnified through her body language and by impressionistic splotches of watery color. Less significant aspects of Daisy's life are painted faintly (her "owner," details of the park she plays in) while everything that is important to her (the ball, the couch, another dog at the park) get fully saturated colors. Daisy herself is rendered with light gray outlines, but her eyes, nose, ears, tail, and toes are dark, punctuating the pages that show repeated images of her.

Throughout, Raschka sense of rhythm is flawless. Repetitions of the red ball dot the playful spreads while Daisy's post-ball depression is shown with a static repetition of the green couch, the dog sinking deeper and deeper into its cushions. Look at how simply Raschka draws this. He just shows less and less of Daisy until in the fourth panel all we see is ears, a bit of back, and a sagging tail.
Because Rashcka's style is so gestural (if I may use that term outside of human figure drawing) and his brush strokes so loose, it's sometimes hard to see exactly where Daisy's mouth or eyes are. But there is never any question of the emotion being depicted."

Connections

If you enjoyed "A Ball For Daisy", you will probably also enjoy its sequel, "Daisy Gets Lost".

There are many opportunities for responses after reading this book. Children can discuss their own favorite toys, a time something they loved was broken or lost, or a time they made a new friend.

Older students can extend the lesson by writing their own versions of the story.