Balloons Over Broadway: An Inspiring True Story About Parade Balloons for Children (Ages 4–8)

Balloons Over Broadway: An Inspiring True Story About Parade Balloons for Children (Ages 4–8)

A New York Times bestseller! From Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet comes the perfect Thanksgiving Day picture book. Let's have a parade! Meet the master puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Melissa Sweet brings to life the inspirational story of the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons floating in the sky during the annual parade celebrating Thanksgiving. The Caldecott Honor artist brilliantly captures the essence of Tony Sarg, a self-taught immigrant with a fascinating imagination. The collage illustrations coupled with Sweet’s storytelling portray Sarg’s joy in his childhood inventions and his ingenious balloon creations that still bring delight to viewers around the country. This nonfiction illustrated book will capture the hearts of all ages. “This clever marriage of information and illustration soars high.” ( Kirkus starred review) Sketches from the Author (Click on Images to Enlarge) Sometimes I have to play with pictures to find the words, so I'll make a collage to get warmed up. My writing looks like lists and doodles until the very end when I write it out on the computer. An early sketch in Tony Sarg's studio where they puppeteers are figuring out how to make the inflatable animals. This was the perfect place to have a spread that had to be turned, just like the "upside down marionettes" rising up. In a nonfiction book even the smallest detail needs to be accurate and I found this wonderful reference for a 1920's New York City bus stop sign that I used in Balloons Over Broadway . “Sweet’s brilliant combination of collage, design, illustration and text give Balloons Over Broadway an amazing richness. [No one] will ever see the parade in the same way.” - New York Times Book Review “It’s a history lesson, inventor's sketchbook, and inspirational story all rolled into one marvelous mixed-media masterpiece. Sweet's beautifully rendered true-life tale will have your child's imagination soaring to new heights!” - Education.com "Sweet tells this slice of American history well, conveying both Sarg’s enthusiasm and joy in his work as well as the drama and excitement of the parade. This one should float off the shelves." - School Library Journal (starred review) “Tony Sarg, the man who invented the giant balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, has found a worthy biographer in Caldecott Honoree Sweet. The rush that comes from inspiration, the cliffhanger moments of creation, the sheer joy of building something and watching it delight the multitudes—Sweet captures it all in what is truly a story for all ages." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “This clever marriage of information and illustration soars high.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Sweet’s whimsical mixed-media collages, embellished with little dolls she made herself out of odds and ends, reinforce the theme that, for Sarg, work was play." - Horn Book (starred review) “A joyous piece of nonfiction that informs and delights in equal parts.” - Booklist (starred review) Melissa Sweet is the Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator of many fine children’s books including Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White , winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award;  Balloons over Broadway , a Sibert Medal winner; and The Right Word and A River of Words , both Caldecott Honor Books. Reviewers have described her unique mixed-media illustrations as “exuberant,” “outstanding,” and “a creative delight.” Melissa lives on the beautiful coast of Maine. In addition to writing and painting, she enjoys gardening, hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. For more information about Melissa and her work, visit her online at melissasweet.net. Melissa Sweet  has illustrated more than one hundred books, including Kwame Alexander’s  How to Read a Book and How to Write a Poem , and has written and illustrated her own work. Her work has been featured in magazines, on greeting cards, and on living room walls. Melissa has received the Caldecott Honor Medal twice, among many other awards, including the Sibert Award, and is a  New York Times  bestselling author and artist. Melissa lives in Maine. You can visit her at melissasweet.net.