Children's book: Bubble Trouble

Overview
Margaret Mahy's Bubble Trouble is a bright, playful picture story that turns an ordinary moment of childhood play into a sky-high adventure. The central character, Mabel, blows a seemingly harmless bubble that balloons into something extraordinary: it lifts her baby brother and carries him aloft, setting off an increasingly inventive scramble to bring him back to solid ground. The narrative crackles with gentle humor and growing suspense, while illustrations (bold and expressive) amplify the comic chaos and tender relief that follows.

Plot
A simple afternoon game grows spectacularly out of hand when Mabel's bubble becomes big enough to take her baby brother on a float above the neighbourhood. At first the scene is all wonder , shimmering colours, curious faces, and the surreal sight of a baby bobbing past chimneys and treetops inside a glossy globe. The bubble's path traces familiar streets and back gardens, inviting readers to enjoy the soaring perspective and the escalating absurdity as it drifts further from home.
Neighbours and friends quickly join the chase, each bringing their own idea of how to intercept the wayward bubble. The pursuit becomes a parade of improvised plans, good-natured bickering, and imaginative tools, as everyone from casual passersby to well-meaning grown-ups contributes a hand, a ladder, or a brainstorm. The action balances laughable mishaps with real concern, and the community's creative teamwork finally produces a solution that brings the baby safely back to the ground. The return is met with a mixture of relief and relief-tinged humor, and the story closes on a warm note that celebrates both the thrill of childhood mischief and the steadiness of communal care.

Themes and tone
The story plays with the boundary between ordinary domestic life and whimsical fantasy, using a domestic mishap to explore imagination, responsibility, and communal bonds. Mabel's bubble is a vehicle for wonder as well as a reminder that simple actions can have unexpected consequences; the adults' varied responses move between exasperation and affection, underscoring how a neighbourhood can rally when something small turns startling. The tone remains lighthearted throughout, with enough tension to keep young listeners engaged but always guided toward reassurance and safety.
Bubble Trouble thrives as a read-aloud: the pacing and visual jokes invite repetition, shared laughter, and opportunities for children to predict what might happen next. The book rewards both close viewers, who will spot humorous details hidden in the pictures, and listeners, who will relish the rhythmic rise and fall of the plot. Ultimately the tale is a celebration of curiosity, communal problem-solving, and the resilient calm that follows a brief, skyward panic , an ideal blend of mischief and warmth for preschoolers and early readers.