It was a bright summer morning. Baby Ben Balloon and his Mummy and Daddy were in the garden. Baby Ben was playing near a rose bush when Daddy Balloon said to him. Don’t play there son, you might get pricked by a thorn and then you’d go Pop, and you’d have to wear a big patch for the rest of your life. Ben didn’t want that to happen so he went to play in his sandpit instead.

Daddy balloon said to Mummy balloon, it’s such a nice sunny day; let’s go for a fly in the sky. Mummy balloon said yes I’d like that. So Daddy balloon tied some string around them both, and the other end of the string to the fence. We don’t want to get blown away by a big gust of wind, do we said Daddy balloon. Baby Ben said what about-ME? I want to fly too!! Mummy balloon said I’m sorry Ben but only big balloons can fly. Then with one big jump Mummy and Daddy balloon went floating up into the sky. Up up up they went, past the top of the fence, past the roof of the house, up, up, and up, higher and higher into the clouds. Baby Ben wanted to fly too, so he jumped up and down in the garden, but it was know use, he just couldn’t jump high-enough. So Ben just had to play in his sandpit, till Mummy and Daddy came back down. They didn’t fly for too long, Mummy balloon wouldn’t leave Ben on his own; he might get up to some mischief. When they landed Daddy balloon said. I feel quiet tired now after all that flying, I think I’ll have a little nap. Mummy balloon was tired too, so she but Baby Ben in his bed, and they all had an afternoon nap.

Ben couldn’t sleep though he kept thinking what it must be like to fly high in the sky up among the clouds. Then Ben had an idea. He snuggled up to Daddy balloon and let some air out of him into Baby Ben balloon. SHH, SHH went Daddy Balloon as he slowly started to go down. Daddy balloon began to look quite wrinkled, so Ben stopped. Ben felt much, bigger and lighter now, so he went into the garden and jumped in the sky. Up, up, up he went, up to the top of the fence, up to the top of the house, but then he came down again!! It was no good he just wasn’t big enough to fly. So he snuggled up to Mummy balloon and let some air out of her into Ben balloon. Shh, shh went Mummy balloon as she slowly started to go down. Mummy balloon began to look wrinkled too, so Ben stopped. Ben was now very big and light, and quite sure he could fly. So he went into the garden again and got ready to jump. But just as he was about to jump, he remembered what Daddy balloon had said about tying himself with some string to the fence. He didn’t want to get blown away and never see his Mummy and Daddy again.

He tied himself to the fence and made a great big jump. Up, up-up he went higher and higher, past the top of the fence, past the roof of the house, up, up, up into the sky. Baby Ben balloon felt so happy he was really flying, he could see for miles and miles. He was so high he could see Mr SUN’S face. Hello Mr SUN said Ben. Hello Ben said Mr SUN.  Ben really liked flying, but then a big old crow came and landed on Ben. Peck, peck peck, went the big old crow on Ben balloon. Ben didn’t want to go pop and have to wear a big patch for the rest of his life. So he went, wriggle jiggle, wriggle jiggle to shake of that big old crow. But it was no good, so he went wriggle jiggle, wriggle jiggle again, and this time the big old crow fell off. Ben felt quite frightened now, and wished he was back in his own garden, with his Mummy and Daddy. Flying isn’t much fun on your own he thought. But Ben didn’t know how to get back down!!

On the ground Daddy woke up and said, what’s happened to me, I’ve gone all wrinkly? Mummy balloon woke up and said, what’s happened to me, I’ve gone all wrinkly too? Then they so Baby Ben balloon flying high in the sky. Mummy balloon shouted come down Ben; it’s too dangerous to fly on your own. Just then that big old crow came back and started to peck at Ben’s string, peck, peck, peck, went the big old crow, till the string broke, and Ben started to float higher and higher into the sky. Up, up, up he went towards Mr SUN. Please Baby Ben balloon, don’t come any closer to me, I’m very big and hot, and I’ll make you go POP, said Mr SUN. But Ben just floated higher and higher and higher. Then Ben had an idea. He let some air out of himself Shh, Shh, went baby Ben as the air came out of him, and he stopped going up. So he let some more air out, SHH, SHH, went Baby Ben again, and this time he stopped going up, and started to slowly float back-down to his garden. When he landed Mummy balloon was very upset, and Daddy balloon was very cross with Ben. (You know what this means, don’t you son, you’ve let me down, and you’re Mummy down, and yourself down). Ben said he was very sorry and he’d always be good from then on. Flying on your own can be very scary. Daddy balloon said it’s alright son when you’re older and bigger I’ll teach you how to fly properly. Mummy balloon gave Ben a big hug and they all went in for their tea.