Bibliographic Data:
Sweet, Melissa. 2011. Balloons
over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.
ISBN 9780547199450
Plot Summary:
Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is a
tradition in many households across America. Balloons over Broadway takes the reader through the history of the
Macy’s parade, specifically focusing on the creator of its iconic balloons.
Anthony “Tony” Frederick Sarg began his
career as a puppeteer at an early age, progressing puppet design and ultimately
creating the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade that we know today. The book begins
with Sarg’s childhood and follows his progression as a marionette performer and
puppet maker. He is petitioned by R.H. Macy’s department store to create puppets
for the store’s holiday windows and eventually is asked to create a parade for
the employees of Macy’s. The parade begins to grow in popularity and Sarg’s
puppet designs evolve into the balloons that are still used in the parade to
date.
Critical Analysis:
With the use of vibrant colors
and various materials utilized for illustration, Balloons over Broadway composes the perfect progression of Tony
Sarg’s artistic approach to puppet making and the many inventions that lead to
the creation of the giant balloons that make up the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Sweet provides the reader with a well-organized and accurate account of the
parade’s creation. She provides an interesting note with additional facts and a
thorough bibliography including sources and quotations. The story is organized
sequentially beginning with the reader being introduced to an inventive 6 year
old with a passion for creativity. Sweet
incorporates several visual aids including drawings of designs and diagrams of
the thought processes associated with Sarg’s inventions.
Not only is the story one that is
interesting and enjoyable, but the overall design is phenomenal. Sweet incorporates various mixed media
including cloth cut outs, tiny dolls, buttons,
and thread among other materials and colorful illustrations. There is a
definite correlation between the author’s visionary style and the inventions
she is describing. Balloons over Broadway
is a fantastic example of how history can be fun and colorful.
Awards:
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for
Children, 2012
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner,
2012
Review Excerpt(s):
Booklist, Starred Review, 2011:
“A joyous piece of nonfiction that informs and delights in equal parts.”
“A joyous piece of nonfiction that informs and delights in equal parts.”
Kirkus, Starred Review, 2011:
“This clever marriage of
information and illustration soars high.”
School Library Journal, Starred Review, 2011:
“Sweet tells this slice of American history well, conveying both
Sarg’s enthusiasm and joy in his work as well as the drama and excitement of
the parade. . .This one should float off the shelves."
Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review, 2011:
“Tony Sarg, the man who
invented the giant balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, has found a
worthy biographer in Caldecott Honoree Sweet. The rush that comes from
inspiration, the cliffhanger moments of creation, the sheer joy of building
something and watching it delight the multitudes—Sweet captures it all in what
is truly a story for all ages"
Connections:
* Create your own puppets. Include various materials that are
in the book. Use cloth, buttons, sticks, and other fun materials. Here are some
websites for making puppets:
* Portable Document Format (PDF) with lots of activities and
ideas to correspond with Balloons over
Broadway:
*Other books that pair well with Balloons over Broadway:
Corey, Shana. Milly and the Macy’s Parade. Ill. Helquist, Brett. ISBN 9780439297554
Pease,
Pamela Macy’s on Parade: A Pop-Up
Celebration of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. ISBN 9780966943320
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