Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride

Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride

by Marjorie Priceman

The first "manned" hot-air balloon is about to take off. But what are those noises coming from the basket? Based on the (POSSIBLY) true report of a day in 1783, this is the story of (PERHAPS) the bravest collection of flyers the world has ever seen, as (SORT OF) told to Marjorie Priceman.

This Caldecott Medal Honor award winner focuses on the mostly true story of the first hot air balloon ride, a ride that was "manned" by a crew of barnyard animals. Set during the late 1700s, the history is cheerfully embellished for dramatic purposes. The stunning illustrations are often broken up into different quadrants,which makes each page full of action.

Your child will love to see all of these animals as they cope with the fact that they are flying through the air in what appears to be a very crazy contraption. Many of the book's pages are without words so the pictures will grab your child's complete attention. Inside the back cover, a shorter, truer version of the story is written and illustrated, so that you and your little historian can learn some interesting facts together.

My nephew, Joshua, thought that the pictures were really funny in this book. Many of the pictures include animal noises, which encouraged us both to make all sorts of goofy sounds. It also encouraged Joshua to crawl around the ground and pretend he was a sheep. All in all, it was quite a funny day.

--Eve