Today's Perfect Picture Book is one I would have chosen myself anyway, but it comes to us courtesy of talented author/illustrator Lisa Thiesing who wanted to participate but doesn't have a blog to post on. If anyone else out there is in a similar position, please feel free to email me your Perfect Picture Book and I'll post it and credit you as I am doing here for Lisa! (You can use the handy Email Me button on the right hand side of the blog.)
It's especially timely as Penny, the winner of our Thanksgiving Contest, chose Balloons Over Broadway as her prize! So without further ado:
Written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Houghton Mifflin Books For Children, November, 2011, Non-Fiction Biography/History
Suitable For: ages 4-8
Themes/Topics: art, puppeteering, pursuing a dream
Opening and brief synopsis: "From the time he was a little boy, Tony Sarg loved to figure out how to make things move. He once said he became a marionette man when he was only six years old." Melissa Sweet tells the true story of Tony Sarg, inventor of the huge balloons that are the trademark and centerpiece of the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
Links to resources: this story is perfect for a curriculum section that covers art, history, biography, or Thanksgiving, or just as a good story for children interested in where things come from and how they work. Balloons Over Broadway Activity Kit. (Please be patient - the activity kit loads slowly because of all the art but it's well worth the wait!) There is also a spread of interesting and helpful back matter at the end of the book to expand your lesson.
Why I like this book: this book is interesting, entertaining and educational. Tony Sarg is an inspiration because he had little or no formal art education and yet he went on to pursue his dreams and become world-renowned for his work. One of his apprentices, Bil Baird, created the "Lonely Goatherd" marionettes for The Sound Of Music, and one of Bil Baird's apprentices was Jim Henson who invented The Muppets!
For more books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books!
I can't wait to read everyone else's Perfect Picture Books for this Friday! Don't forget to place your link in the list below so everyone can find you easily!
Have a great weekend, everyone! November Pitch Pick coming Monday! And I hope you'll all find a few minutes to work on your Holiday Contest entries (please scroll down that link for contest description and rules.) A great prize could be yours :)
P.S. I almost forgot! The randomly selected winner of the November Perfect Picture Book contributor draw is Stacy! Congratulations, Stacy! You will receive your choice of a $10 Amazon gift card or a signed copy of Airplane Flight: A Lift-The-Flap-Adventure by yours truly :)
