• The story behind Doctor Dog

    Doctor Dog is the latest short story for young listeners on the Big Red Balloon Podcast. Funny and absurd, it was inspired by recent conversations (and a few statistics) about the booming number of pet owners in Vienna. One reason often mentioned is that couples are choosing not to have children, opting instead to complete their family…

  • The Big Red Balloon Podcast Lifts Off!

    Epic adventures, courageous heroes, and magical worlds—new stories every month for young explorers. The Big Red Balloon Podcast officially launched in January 2026 with its first thrilling adventure story—Zombie Island. This thrilling tale follows Edi and Boy, two unlikely companions who row out into a mist-shrouded mountain lake toward a snow-covered, seemingly abandoned island village.…

  • Setting Sail: Inspired by The Sailor Dog

    Featured image by Ksenia Makagonova on unsplash Maybe you too have been asked, “What’s your favorite book?”My all-time favourite is The Sailor Dog by Margaret Wise Brown, with illustrations by Garth Williams. As you might guess, it’s a children’s book. First published in 1953 as a Little Golden Book, it has been delighting readers for generations. Scuppers…