Book Review #120

 Balloons Over Broadway: The Inspiring True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Author: Melissa Sweet

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

ISBN: 9780547199450

Genre:

Biography / Informational Non-Fiction

Topic:

The life and inventive work of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer who created the giant Macy’s parade balloons.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars!🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 

Why 5 Roars?

It brings history to life with joy, color, and creativity. Kids not only learn about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but they also get to see how one person’s imagination and persistence can spark a beloved American tradition. The artwork is dynamic, detailed, and fun to explore.

Critical Analysis:

Melissa Sweet blends biography with art in a way that feels fresh and inviting. Her mixed-media illustrations, collages, watercolors, sketches, and newspaper clippings mirror Tony Sarg’s inventive spirit. 

Each page introduces a small step in Sarg’s journey, from his childhood curiosity about how things work to his later experiments with marionettes and float designs. 

Accuracy:

The book is well-researched and grounded in factual historical content about Tony Sarg, Macy’s, parade development, and early balloon engineering. Sweet includes archival materials and author notes that clarify sources and confirm the accuracy of events and design details.

Organization:

The story unfolds chronologically, following Sarg from curious child to accomplished puppeteer. The clean structure helps young readers understand how his ideas grew over time. Bonus endnotes and visual extras extend learning without overwhelming the main narrative.

Design:

The layout is lively and engaging. Sweet uses layered images, colorful typography, and interactive elements that draw the eye across the page. The artistic choices echo Sarg’s own playful style, making the book feel like a visual celebration.

Style:

Friendly, upbeat, and imaginative. Sweet writes with a tone that invites curiosity and wonder, balancing information with charm.

Awards:

• Sibert Medal Winner

• Orbis Pictus Honor Book

• NCTE Notable Children’s Book

• Multiple starred reviews

Connections:

This book pairs beautifully with November lessons on Thanksgiving, parades, American traditions, invention, and STEAM concepts. 

It can lead to classroom or library activities such as:

• designing your own parade balloon

• exploring simple puppetry

• learning about engineering challenges

• discussing how traditions evolve over time

Book Review #119

Thank You, Omu!

Author: Oge Mora
Illustrator: Oge Mora
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316431248
Reading Level: Ages 4–8

Main Character:
Omu, a kind woman whose delicious stew draws her neighbors to her door.

Plot:
Omu makes a pot of thick stew. The smell drifts through her community, and one by one, neighbors come knocking. She generously shares a portion with each visitor until the pot is empty. When dinner time arrives and Omu has nothing left for herself, the neighbors return, this time bringing food for her.

Settings:
A lively urban neighborhood filled with people who look out for one another.

Genre/Theme/Style:
Realistic fiction celebrating gratitude, generosity, community, and the joy of giving.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars?
It is a great November story. Kids see kindness in action, feel the warmth of community sharing, and learn that giving often circles back in unexpected ways. The collage-style artwork brings the scenes to life with texture and color that feels comforting and rich.

Critical Analysis:
Mora’s storytelling is gentle and rhythmic, making it easy for young readers to follow. The repetition of neighbors arriving at the door builds anticipation, while the final act of gratitude teaches kindness. Her collage illustrations, layered paper, paint, and patterns to create a vibrant visual world that mirrors the book’s theme of gathering and togetherness.

Connections:
This book pairs well with November lessons on gratitude and thankfulness. It can lead to classroom or library discussions about helping others, sharing what we have, and noticing the kindness in our own communities. Children can create their own “acts of kindness” lists, write thank-you notes, or even design collages inspired by the artwork.