Balloons Over Broadway
By Melissa Sweet
The Story
The true story of Tony Sarg, a self-taught puppeteer whose childhood love of inventing gadgets and moving figures led him to create the giant helium balloons that still float above the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Why It's Special
For the kid who takes apart toys just to see how they move, this is proof that a lifetime of tinkering can turn into something millions of people look up and cheer for.
- Big idea: Curiosity and playful invention, followed long enough, can grow into something that brings joy to a whole country.
- Vibes: Warm, inventive, and full of wonder — a nonfiction story that feels like watching an idea come to life.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy stories about real inventors and how things are made
- like to build, tinker, or figure out how gadgets work
- are working on seeing how small ideas can grow into big ones
- love Thanksgiving traditions and parades
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What kinds of things did Tony Sarg like to invent when he was a kid?
- Imagination: If you could design a giant balloon for a parade, what would it look like?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons floating overhead?
- Feelings & empathy: Why do you think Tony Sarg felt so much joy making puppets and balloons?
- Story & problem-solving: What do you notice about how the pictures in this book are made, using collage and paper?
