It was a warm summer’s night and Baby Ben balloon was fast asleep in his bed. Suddenly Ben was awakened by a big old owl hooting in the garden.

Twit tawoo, twit tawoo went the big old owl. Baby Ben wasn’t frightened though, his Daddy had told him Owls sleep all day and play all night. Ben got out of bed and went to look out the window. The moon was very bright that night and, Ben could see Mr Moons face very clearly. Hello Mr Moon said Ben, your so big and round, are you a big Yellow balloon in the sky?

Mr Moon laughed.

No Ben I’m a big rock far-out in space, but there are lots and lots of balloons living here.

I’d like too come and play with them said Ben. I’m sorry Ben Mr Moon said

But, I’m so far away you’d need a spaceship to reach me. Ben was sad he couldn’t go, and said goodnight too Mr Moon.

He got back into his bed but it was no use, he just couldn’t get back to sleep, he kept thinking about the Moon Balloons, and what it must be like to live on the Moon. Then Ben had an Idea, he knew if he let the air out of himself very quickly he could jump very high. If I can make myself very big, then perhaps I can reach the Moon he thought. So he went and snuggled up to his Daddy and let some air out of him into Baby Ben Balloon. SHHH, SHHH, went Daddy Balloon as he slowly started to go down. Daddy Balloon began too look wrinkled, so Ben stopped.

He was very big now and full of lots of air, but he remembered what Mr Moon had said, about him being far-out in space. So he snuggled up too his Mummy and let some air out of her!!! SHHH, SHHH went Mummy Balloon as she slowly went down,

Till she began to look wrinkled too, so Baby Ben stopped.

He was so big and full of air now he had to squeeze himself out of the house.

Wriggle jiggle, wriggle jiggle he went as he squeezed out of his back door.

He didn’t want to catch himself on something sharp and go POP, and have to wear a patch for the rest of his life.

Then with one last wriggle jiggle wriggle, he bounced out into his back garden.

Ben looked up at the stars, then pointed himself towards Mr Moon and let out his air. Up, up, up he went like a space rocket, higher and higher, faster and faster. Soon he was out in space and the Earth got smaller and smaller, till it was just a blue ball in the sky.

Mr Moon got bigger and bigger as Ben got nearer. Then Ben began too slowdown as he ran out of air. Ben started to get frightened, he didn’t want to be lost in space, and never see his Mummy and Daddy again.

Suddenly with a bounce, bounce, bounce he landed on the Moon and came to a stop behind a big boulder. Ben looked all-around, the Moon was a very strange place, there wasn’t any grass or trees or flowers, just lots of boulders and sand every where. Then Ben heard the sound of someone playing on the other side of the boulder. He looked around the boulder, and there playing games were lots and lots of, Moon Balloons!!

Ben wanted too run and play with them, but the Moon Balloons looked different to him, they were all covered in colourful spots and had big green eyes!!

Ben was just an ordinary blue balloon. He’d never seen balloons like this before. He thought they might not like him because he was different.

So he stayed behind the boulder and watched them playing for a while.

Baby Ben Balloon don’t be afraid, said Mr Moon. All balloons are the same, even Moon Balloons. Ben felt much happier now and stepped out from behind the boulder. Hello Moon Balloons I’m from the planet Earth, can I play with you he said? All the Moon Balloons gathered around Ben, they’d never seen an Earth Balloon before. Of course you can play with us, said the Moon Balloons, and off they all ran, and played lots of games all night.

Ben’s favourite game was Hide and Seek; he loved hiding behind the big boulders. Ben enjoyed himself so much he quit forgot what time it was.

Then suddenly he heard Mr Moons voice. Baby Ben Balloon it’s time for you to go home now, Mr Sun will soon be coming out. Ben didn’t want to leave his new friends, he’d had so much fun, but then he realised he was much too small too fly back home. He didn’t have enough air so he started to cry thinking he’d never see his Mummy and Daddy again.

The Moon Balloons saw Ben crying and gathered around him.

Ben told them why he couldn’t go home. Don’t worry Baby Ben, if we all snuggle around you and give you some of our air, you’ll soon be big enough to fly back home. And so that’s what they did. But a funny thing happened to Ben as he filled up with air and got bigger and bigger, he began too be covered in lots and lots of colourful spots. You really are a moon Balloon now Ben, said Mr Moon laughing. Ben thought he looked really good covered in his new spots. He said goodbye too all his new friends and pointed himself towards the Earth and let out his air. Up, up, up he went like a space rocket higher and higher, faster and faster he went, till soon he was out in space, and Mr Moon began to get smaller and smaller, till he was just a yellow ball in the sky. The Earth got bigger and bigger as Ben got nearer and nearer, but then Ben began to slow down as he ran-out of air, and his New spots began to vanish as he got, smaller and smaller. Then suddenly with a bounce, bounce, bounce he landed back in his garden. Ben ran into his house to wake-up his Mummy and Daddy.

Daddy woke up first and said, what’s happened to me I’ve gone all wrinkly, Mummy woke up and said, I’ve gone all wrinkly too, then they so Baby Ben Balloon. You know what this means don’t you son, you’ve let me down, and your Mummy down, and your self down. Ben said he was very sorry and told then about the Moon Balloons and how he’d been afraid too play with them till Mr Moon told him all balloons are the same.

It’s alright Ben said his Daddy, at least you’ve learned an important lesson that all Balloons, no matter what shape or colour, are all the same.

Baby Ben suddenly felt very sleepy; after all he had been playing all night.

So his Mummy put him in his nice warm bed, and he was soon fast-asleep dreaming of his new best friends, the Moon Balloons.