Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade
on Goodreads (13,135)
What’s inside...
The story of Tony Sarg, a puppeteer who brought joy to millions of children and adults alike with his beloved balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. From his early days as a puppeteer in New York City to his work on the parade, this book tells the story of a man who brought magic to the world through his art. The book includes watercolor illustrations and archival photographs that bring the story to life. From Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet comes the perfect Thanksgiving Day picture book. Let's have a parade!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Tony Sarg felt when he saw his balloons float in the Macy's Parade for the first time?
What challenges do you think Tony faced while creating the balloons and how did he overcome them?
Why do you think the Macy's Parade was so important to Tony Sarg?
Can you think of a time when you created something and felt proud of it, like Tony did?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about Tony Sarg's journey, highlighting the importance of perseverance and creativity.
Discuss the historical context of the Macy's Parade and how it has become a tradition, enhancing their understanding of cultural events.
Relate the story to your child's experiences of watching parades or creating art, making personal connections to the story's themes.
Praise your child’s insights and encourage them to think about how they can use their own talents to achieve goals, fostering a sense of accomplishment and confidence.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Persistence pays off
Explanation: The story highlights the perseverance of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer, as he creatively solves the problem of how to animate the massive balloons from below rather than above. His relentless determination and innovative thinking culminated in the success of the Macy's Parade balloons.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to embrace challenges with a determined spirit. Whether it's solving a difficult math problem or learning a new skill, persistence can lead to achieving goals.
Example Lesson: Creativity leads to breakthroughs
Explanation: Tony Sarg's inventive mind led him to develop a solution that changed the face of Macy's Parade forever. His ability to think outside the box enabled him to create helium balloons that could float majestically above the crowd.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to think creatively in their daily lives, which can be applied in art projects, problem solving, and innovative thinking in school assignments.
Example Lesson: Working together can achieve great things
Explanation: The collaboration between Tony Sarg and Macy's, as well as the team who helped design and execute the balloon concept, showcases the importance of teamwork in turning visions into reality.
Real-World Application: This can be relayed to children to highlight the importance of cooperation and collaboration in group projects at school or during team sports.
Example Lesson: Appreciation for history and tradition
Explanation: By learning about the origins of the Macy's Parade balloons, children gain insights into how traditions begin and the historical events that shape cultural practices.
Real-World Application: This can instill a sense of curiosity about their own cultural practices and traditions, encouraging them to learn more and value the heritage around them.
Example Lesson: The impact of innovation on society
Explanation: Tony Sarg’s contribution to the Macy’s Parade left a lasting legacy that millions continue to enjoy. It underlines the societal impact one individual’s innovative thinking can have.
Real-World Application: Children can be motivated to think about how their actions and creative ideas can influence and improve their own communities.