Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

From Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet comes the perfect Thanksgiving Day read, the story of Tony Sarg. Meet the master puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Melissa Sweet, author of Girls Think of Everything, brings to life the inspirational story of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons floating in the sky during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. 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 portrays 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 sitting around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day.

Author: Melissa Sweet
Publisher: Clarion Books
Published: 11/01/2011
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.86lbs
Size: 9.25h x 11.38w x 0.38d
ISBN: 9780547199450

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.4
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 146536 / Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

Award: Georgia Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: North Carolina Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Virginia Readers Choice Award - Nominee
Award: Young Hoosier Book Award - Nominee
Award: Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award - Winner
Award: Lupine Award - Winner
Award: Nutmeg Book Award - Nominee
Award: Cook Prize - Winner
Award: Red Clover Award - Nominee
Award: Monarch Award - Nominee
Award: Black-Eyed Susan Award - Nominee
Award: Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - Recommended
Award: Volunteer State Book Awards - Nominee
Award: Jefferson Cup - Winner
Award: Delaware Diamonds Award - Nominee
Award: William Allen White Childens Book Award - Nominee
Award: Land of Enchantment Book Award - Nominee
Award: Beehive Awards - Winner
Award: Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award - Nominee
Award: Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award - Nominee
Award: Golden Kite - Winner
Award: Orbis Pictus Award - Winner
Award: Children's Book Committee Award - Winner
Award: Bluebonnet Awards - Nominee
Award: Rhode Island Children's Book Awards - Nominee
Award: Cybils - Finalist
Award: Star of the North Picture Book Award - Nominee
Award: Charlotte Zolotow Award - Highly Commended

About the Author

Like Tony Sarg, Melissa Sweet loved to figure out how to make things move as a child. (She even remembers taking apart her own marionettes to see how they worked!) Today, she still plays with simple materials to construct her brilliant mixed-media collage illustrations, for which she has won a Caldecott Honor and two New York Times Best Illustrated citations. About this book, she writes: 　As I began to research Tony Sarg, I was especially curious how he went from illustration and puppetry to designing the huge parade balloons. After I spent five years reading everything I could find on him, the Macy's parade, and puppetry--then traveling all over the map to talk to puppeteers--it seemed incredible that so few people knew of his work. I found him so inspiring, I wanted the whole world to know his story. For more information about the author and her work, visit www.melissasweet.net.