Balloons over Broadway:  The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade

Author: Melissa Sweet
genre: Sibert Award / Historical fiction

         grade level: 1st and up

brief synopsis: The book is about Tony Sarg who makes marionette's and its the story of how the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade was created and the balloons that have risen because of him in 1928.

My review: I think the book is wonderfully written so that all ages can enjoy the book. It can be used as a read aloud for younger children and an independent for older children. The illustrations come off the page and are well done as well. It shows children where the parade came from and how he came up with his ideas. 

post reading activity: Have students create their own images to have a mini parade in the classroom.  Have students create a paper-mache abstract of the images.  

About the author: Melissa Sweet has illustrated nearly 100 children's books from board books to picture books and nonfiction titles. Her collages and paintings have appeared in the New York Times and Martha Stewart Living, on Madison Park Greetings and Smilebox cards, and on a line of eeBoo toys. She received a Caldecott Honor Medal for a River of Words by Jen Bryant and two New York Times Best Illustrated citations.

http://www.teenreads.com/authors/melissa-sweet#books