Balloons Over Broadway is a vivid picture book about the real story of the man behind the puppeteers in the Macy’s Parade. It’s a fascinating story about a boy named Tony who  was clever when he was young and turned his ideas into real life. Tony, being a typical kid, wanted an easier way to let the chickens out while he stayed in bed and voila! he made it happen with some simple pulleys. He later used that same type of thinking to create puppets for children and later on went on to be in charge of the huge puppet balloons in the Macy’s Parade!

This book gives a glimpse of what even a simple or little thought or idea can become something huge that can put a smile on the world’s face. I love the story behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade; I never knew the story until I read this book. Fascinating what even adults can learn from children’s literature.

Click on the image to visit the author’s Amazon page to find more books written by Sweet.

Sweet, Melissa (2011). Balloons over broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s parade. New York, NY: Houghton.