From the Bookshelf of The Picture Book Group…

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

Melissa Sweet

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Jan 30, 2012 Kathryn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: autumn-halloween-thanksgiving, childrens-picture-books, art, new-books, biographies

I thoroughly enjoyed this picture book biography of Tony Sarg, creator of the first balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

As a boy, Tony loved to figure out how things worked and he loved to build things (his solution to feeding the chickens on cold mornings left me both laughing and admiring!). His keen mind and sense of imagination and fun held steadfast to adulthood (and a move from his home in England) and soon he was designing amazing marionettes and even created the "Wondertown" w I thoroughly enjoyed this picture book biography of Tony Sarg, creator of the first balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

As a boy, Tony loved to figure out how things worked and he loved to build things (his solution to feeding the chickens on cold mornings left me both laughing and admiring!). His keen mind and sense of imagination and fun held steadfast to adulthood (and a move from his home in England) and soon he was designing amazing marionettes and even created the "Wondertown" window display for Macy's in New York City. When Macy's employees, many of the immigrants missing their own holiday traditions as the Christmas season approached, wanted to hold a parade, Macy's hired Tony to help. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was born!

I really loved seeing the evolution of Tony's ideas, adapting as the parade changed, both parade and balloons becoming bigger and more popular. (I also was very happy that the zoo animals in the parade were replaced by balloon animals!) I especially enjoyed how Tony got the idea for the huge "marionette balloons" that we see today on the Macy's Parade (readers might even recognize Felix the Cat--a familiar character in the parade today).

Tony Sarg seemed like a great guy. "I've never done a stroke of work in my life," he said. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all feel that way about our jobs!? He seemed to always hold true to his creative spirit and the sense of childhood wonder he held within. Despite his popularity and increasing fame, he always made time for children and responded to every letter he received from his young fans. He also inspired many future puppeteers. One of his apprentices, Bill Baird, created the puppets for the famous "Lonely Goatherd" marionette show in the film "The Sound of Music" and one of Baird's apprentices was Jim Hensen, creator of the Muppets!

Though I wasn't a huge fan of the style of Sweet's illustrations, I could appreciate them and I loved the sense of joy in them. I highly recommend this book to anyone (adults included!) interested in learning more about the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, interested in art, imagination, mechanics, and perseverance. I think it's especially beneficial for children to see how concepts evolve and improve and adapt. Those looking for more about the origins of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade might also enjoy Milly And The Macy's Parade. ...more

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