Set in a small, thousand-year-old town in England, the story follows the three quirky protagonists from her previous novels as they investigate the disappearance of a seemingly out-of-place sculpture by the artist in the town square.

In true Balliett tradition, The Calder Game provokes kids to consider adult-size issues, such as the relationship between art and context. The tale begs the question: What does it mean to be a foreigner as a person or a piece of art?

“Part of it is that [Calder’s] art changes what’s around it, [and] it changes itself,” says Balliett, who uses the artist’s mobiles as a metaphor for life. “Things are always moving around you, and you want to see the whole picture. It helps to see the world as a series of pieces turning in relation to each other.”

Considring the effect of The Wright 3, which led to a still-running custom tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, it’s easy to imagine that this latest novel will prompt a new surge of interest in Calder among the younger set. From the Flamingo sculpture in the Federal Plaza to the ongoing exhibition of his work at the Museum of Contemporary Art, there’s ample opportunity in Chicago to view his work.

“[I’m not looking for] right or wrong answers, but [asking] questions to make kids’ worlds bigger,” Balliett says. “I’m a deep believer in seeding big ideas early because who knows where they may go?” Her own book brings that point home.