Hot Air

Hot Air by Marjorie Priceman

On September 19, 1783, the first hot air balloon with passengers flew up into the skies above the enormous palace of Versailles, with Marie Antoinette in attendance. A duck, a sheep, and a rooster are the lucky passengers, and this is their story, or at least their imagined one. An occasional "quack," "baa," and "cluck," slip into the wordless pictures. The animals enjoy themselves, capture some unsuspecting clothing, and get rushed by a flock of birds, which causes no end of trouble. Accompanied by lively, freewheeling B&W pen-and-ink drawings and watercolors, there are many wonderful touches, such as animal-shaped clouds in the sky. Includes a history of Montgolfier's balloon experiments. A 2006 Caldecott Honor Book.

Hardcover, 32 pages