Balloons Over Broadway

Balloons Over Broadway
Written & illustrated by:Melissa Sweet
Houghton Mifflin Hardcourt, 2011
40 Pages
Nonfiction

                Have you ever wondered who made the huge extravagant balloons in the Macy's day parade? How did someone come up with such a great thing that both young and old wake up early every Thanksgiving morning just to watch these giant balloons come down Main Street in New York City? In this story you will meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! He came up with the most looked forward to part of everyone's Thanksgiving morning. Have an exciting time reading this biography about how he came to be about in Balloons Over Broadway.
                This book has very engaging pictures.  Sweet does a great job at incorporating media and collages in the illustrations.  This story is educational and engaging for the children. I believe that Sweet did an amazing job bringing this story to life.
                I would first use Balloons Over Broadway for a history lesson and have my students research all the different balloons that have been used in the Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Then I would have my students draw a balloon that they would like to create to be incorporated in the parade.  I would have each of my students then stand up and tell the rest of the class why they chose that particular balloon.  Then I would ask my students to find out how many years the Macy's Day Parade has been going on and how many balloons have been featured in it for a math lesson.