The story is about Paul, who feels very lonely and has no real friends. He spends his time playing with beetles and other insects and is not comfortable asking other children if they want to play with him. He thinks of himself as boring and believes that the other children find him rather peculiar. A red balloon changes his attitude and makes him dare to do things he had never thought possible.

The aim of this book is to make it easier for affected children to understand their current situation. They are taught that they are not alone and how to overcome their fears. The book provides parents, siblings and therapists of children who have social anxiety with important information about the emotional disorder along with practical tasks and exercises.

For:

• children (ages 6–12) who suffer from the fear of isolation
• parents, relatives
• therapists