Balloons Over Broadway

 

Book: Balloons Over Broadway 

Author: Melissa Sweet 

Illustrator: Melissa Sweet 

Genre: Nonfiction 

Awards: Robert F. Silbert Informational Book Medal

Age Group: K-4 

Summary: 

Ever since he was little, Tony Sarg loved to figure out how to make things move. When he grew up, he moved to London where he began making marionettes and word spread over how lifelike their movements where. R.H. Macy's department store heard about Tony's puppets and asked him to design a puppet parade for the store's holiday window. They then asked Tony to help them in a parade they were putting on for their employees. He made costumes and floats while Macy's even brought in animals from the Central Park Zoo! The parade was a success and it soon became a tradition. However, with the loud and frightening noises of the animals, Tony was asked to replace them. Tony then came up with part puppet, part balloon creatures that filled the streets. Realizing that large crowds would cause the creatures to not be seen, Tony crafting and planning, created magnificent upside-down marionettes that took to the skies and still does to this day!  

Evaluation and Comments:

Balloons Over Broadway tells us about the origin of one of America's most loved and oldest tradition, the balloons that sail during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. 

I never knew the origins of the Macy balloons so I loved reading this book! Seeing the journey that Tony took from creating something and then continuing to work on it to perfect it was fascinating to read about. And the fact that we still see his creation to this day is even more amazing! Children would no doubt find this book interesting and I will for sure have this book in my classroom. 

A fun activity that you can have students do is allow them to create their own balloon that they would like to have flown during the next Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. They can then present it to the class and if time permits and or you have the materials, students can also try to create a 3D version of their balloon. 

In conclusion, Balloons Over Broadway has my seal of approval! 🥇😄