DISCUSSION GUIDE

Written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011

ISBN # 9780547199450 Grades 3 and up

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Awards and Honors

2012 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner

2012 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award

2012 Cook Prize honoring the best science, technology, engineering

and math (STEM) picture book

2012 The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

2012 Jefferson Cup Award :: Virginia Library Association

2012 ALA Notable Book

New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading & Sharing

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About The Book The2012SibertAwardwinnerfornonfictionisacelebrationofacelebration—orspecifically,themanwhomadetheannualMacy’sThanksgivingDayParadeoneofthemostjubilantyearlyeventsofthelastcentury.InBalloonsoverBroadway,CaldecottHonorartistMelissaSweetintroducesustoTonySarg,theself‐taughtpuppeteerwhocreatedtheenormoushalfballoon,halfpuppetsthatdistinguishtheMacy’sparadefromotherholidayfestivities.Mixingamusingsidecommentary(awoodenpuppetexplainsthat(“Sargrhymeswithaargh!)withnudgingquestions(“Still,howwouldTonymakehisbigpuppetsmove?),SweettracesSarg’sjourneyfromachildhoodofcreativityandresourcefulnesstohisgroundbreakingsuccessaswhatmanyconsidertheFatherofAmericanPuppetry.ButwhattrulyinfusesthispicturebookbiographywithjoyfromendpagetoendpageisSweet’smixedmediaillustrations.Withitsjoyfulpaletteandplethoraofwhimsicalfigures,Sweet’sartisticstylemightaswellbeeponymous.Sweetalsoprovidesenoughinstructivediagrams,includingexcerptsfromSarg’sownsketchesandsamplesofhiscreations,topiqueeventhemostpassivepuppetfan’sinterest.Takenote,too,ofthesurprisingdoublepagespreadthatdemonstratesSarg’sbreakthroughofpuppetengineering.Sharethisbookinyourclassroom,andwatcheveryonejointhecelebration. Teaching Invitations A Note about Connections to the Common Core State Standards ManyoftheCCSSAnchorStandardscanbeaddressedthroughtheTeachingInvitationsdescribedbelow.Refertothestandardsforeachparticulargradetodeterminehowdeeplytoengageintheactivitiestomeetthatgrade’sstandards. • Tony Sarg, the Complete Artist. TonySargwasnotjustaninnovativepuppeteer;he

wasalsoatoydesigner,animator,andauthorandillustratorofdozensofchildren’sbooks.Inviteyourstudentstoconductmoreresearchonthisprolificartisttobuildamorecompletepictureofhisaccomplishments.Havethemsharetheirfindingswiththeclass,andthenpresenttheirinformationtoothersintheschool.SeethearticleinNewYorkMagazineaboutSarg’sillustrationsandthevarioustitlesandwebsiteslistedonpage3inFurtherExplorations.

CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading7,9,10;Writing7,8,9;Speaking&Listening4,5,6

• Puppets and Storytelling. Puppetshavebeenusedtotellandactoutstoriesthroughouthistory.Furthermore,usingpuppetsisapopularwaytoengagestudentsinstorytellingintheclassroom.Theyalsohelpstudentspracticetheirfluencyandprosodyskills.Usetheresourceslistedonpage3inFurtherExplorations,suchastheJimHensonvideosandresourceslistedonpage3inFurtherExplorations,suchastheJimHensonvideosand“StorytellingwithPuppets”tohelpyourstudentscreatepuppetsandpracticestorytelling.ThePuppeteersCooperative(http://puppetco‐op.org)hasdozensofsetsofinstructionsforbuildingyourownpuppets,fromhandpuppetstolife‐sizeones.

CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading4,7;Writing3;Speaking&Listening2,5

• The People Behind the Puppets. Inherauthor’snote,MelissaSweetexplainsthatmuchofTonySarg’ssuccesswasduetotheworkofhistalentedapprentices.Infact,shetracesthemaster‐apprenticerelationshipfromSargallthewaytoJimHenson,creatoroftheMuppets.Engageyourstudentsinexplorationsabouttheseapprenticestolearnmoreaboutthepeoplebehindthepuppets,andhavethemsharewhattheylearninwritten,spoken,visual,ordigitalformats.Usethebookslistedonpage3intheFurther

Explorationssection,andwatchBeingElmo,thedocumentaryaboutKevinClash,thesoft‐spokenmanbehindoneoftoday’smostpopularpuppets,wholikewiseapprenticedunderJimHensontocontinueSarg'slineage.

CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading1,2,3,7,9,10;Writing2,4,6,7,8,9;Speaking&Listening2,4,5,6;Language1,2,3

• Puppetry across Cultures. SweetmentionsthatSargwasinspiredbyanIndonesianrodpuppettocreatetheparade’sfirstballoons,butpuppetryhasbeenanartforminvariousculturesacrosstheworldthroughouthistory.Inviteyourstudentstoexplorethepuppetryofdifferentcultures,comparingandcontrastingthemwitheachotheraswellasSarg’screations.Forwhatpurposesarethepuppetsused?Whatmaterialsareusedtomakethem?Finally,challengeyourstudentstocreatepuppetsinspiredbydiverseculturesanddisplaythemthroughouttheschool.

CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading4,7,9,10

• Community Parades. Engage your students in a study of their local community parades. Visit your local library and have them research the various parades, their purposes, their routes, and their histories, with particular attention to how the parades have evolved over time. If they have families or neighbors who are longtime residents of the community, encourage students to interview them about the parades and perhaps view old photographs of them. Create a book or website in which the class compiles its findings to share with local community members. CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading7,9,10;Writing1‐10;Speaking&Listening1,2,3,5;Language1,2,3

• Focused Biographies.Althoughbiographiesaretechnicallynarratedaccountsofaperson’slife,manybiographiesactuallyconcentrateononeoftwosignificanteventsthatthepersonexperienced.Thisisoftenthecasewithpicturebookbiographies,suchasBalloonsoverBroadway,whichfocusesonlyontheeventsrelatedtoTonySarg’screationoftheMacy’sParadeballoons.Usingthisasamentortext,haveyourstudentswriteabiographyorperhapsanautobiographythatcentersononeimportantoccasioninthesubject’slife.Forcomparison,sharewiththemKathleenKrull'spicturebookbiographyofJimHenson(seecitationintheFurtherExplorationssectiononpage3).Youmayevenwanttochallengethemtowriteandillustratethatbiographyasapicturebooktosharewiththeclass.

CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading2,5,6,9;Writing2,4,5,7,9;Language1,2,3,5,6

• Nonfiction Book Awards. BalloonsoverBroadwayhasgarneredtwoprestigiousawardsforexcellenceinanonfictionchildren’sbook:theSibertMedalfromtheAmericanLibraryAssociation,andtheOrbusPictusAwardfromtheNationalCouncilofTeachersofEnglish.CompareandcontrastthecriteriafortheSibertMedalandtheOrbusPictusAward,anddeterminehowthisbookmeetsthosecriteria.Invitestudentstostudybooksthatwonhonorablementionandotherbooksthatwoninpastyears.Then,haveyourstudentsapplythosecriteriatoavastswathofnonfictionbooksforchildrenandyoungadultstobuildtheirskillsforevaluatingliterature.

CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading1‐10;Language4,6

Critical Literacy • What Makes an American Celebration? TheMacy'sParadebeganasatributetoits

immigrantemployees.Additionally,SweetnotesthatTonySargwasanimmigrant,althoughlittleattentionisgiventohisownculturalroots.WhydoyouthinkSweetdoesthis?WhatothersignificantcontributionstoAmericanculturalcelebrationshavebeenmadebyimmigrants?Whatmakessomethingan"American"traditionifitsbasisisanimmigrantexperience?Moreover,whyaresomeculturalcelebrationsandparades‐‐suchthoseforSt.Patrick'sDay‐‐embracedacrossthecountry,whileothers‐‐liketheChineseNewYear‐‐arerelegatedtospecificregionsorpartsoftown?Invitestudentstoexplorethesequestions.

CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading1,3,5,6,8;Speaking&Listening1,2,3,4,6

• The Economic, Social, and Cultural Capital of Puppeteers. Manypeopleenjoytheentertainmentprovidedbypuppeteers,butrelativelyfewactuallyaspiretobecomeoneandpursueacareerinpuppetry.Andofthosethatdo,storiesofthoselikeTonySargandJimHensonarerare.Giventhefeatsofcreativityandengineering‐‐andthepossibilityforfameandculturalcontributioninvolved‐‐whyisthisso?Howarepuppetsandpuppeteersviewedsociallyorprofessionallyinvariouscultures?Whataretheeconomicrealitiesofpuppeteers,aswellastheeconomiccontributionsoftheircraft?GiventheresurgenceofpopularinterestintheMuppetfranchise,aretheresomeformsofpuppetrythataremoreacceptableorappreciatedthanothers?Howso?Inaway,thesequestionsapplytoallwhopursueartandentertainmentintheircareersandareimportanttounderstandingwhatdiverseculturesvalue.Usethesequestionsandthisteachinginvitationtobuilduponanyoftheotherslistedabovetodeepenstudents’knowledgeaboutthelivesofpuppeteers.

CCSSAnchorStandards:Speaking&Listening1,2,3,4

Further Explorations Online Resources RobertF.SibertInformationalBookMedal–AmericanLibraryAssociationhttp://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedalOrbusPictusAward–NationalCouncilofTeachersofEnglishhttp://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictusMelissaSweet’swebsite:http://melissasweet.netBalloonsoverBroadwayActivityKithttp://www.hmhbooks.com/kids/resources/BalloonsOverBroadway_ActivityKit.pdfOfficialMacy’sThanksgivingDayParadewebsite:http://www.macys.com/paradePuppeteersofAmericahttp://www.puppeteers.orgThePuppeteersCooperativehttp://puppetco‐op.orgTonySarg–entrybyTwinCitiesPuppeteers:http://www.tcpuppet.org/NewFiles/Sarg.htmlBeingElmo‐informationaboutthedocumentaryaboutKevinClash,theSesameStreetpuppeteerhttp://beingelmo.comHowStuffWorks–HeliumBalloons:http://www.howstuffworks.com/helium.htm

HowStuffWorks–Macy’sThanksgivingDayParadehttp://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/macys‐thanksgiving‐day‐parade.htm"TheZoomingTwenties"–articleinNewYorkMagazineonTonySarg’sillustrationshttp://nymag.com/arts/books/features/29703/StorytellingwithPuppetshttp://www.libsci.sc.edu/storytelling/techniques/collinspuppethanout.pdfStoryteller.net:http://www.storyteller.net/JimHensonvideosaboutpuppetmaking:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC440k6iByAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7JFw‐9QUrsBooks Corey,S.(2002).Millyand the Macy's Parade .NewYork:Scholastic.• ThisappealingpicturebookprovidesahistoricallyfictiveaccountoftheoriginsoftheMacy’sThanksgiving

DayParade.

Huser,G.(2005).St itches .Toronto,ONT:GroundwoodBooks.• Ahistoricalfictionchapterbookaboutayoungboywhofacesbullyingandsocialdiscriminationasheattemptsto

stageapuppetproductionofAMidsummerNight’sDream.

Krull,K.(2011).JimHenson :Theguywho played with puppets .NewYork:RandomHouse.• ApicturebookbiographyofthefamouscreatoroftheMuppets.

Love,D.A.(2004).ThePuppeteer’s Apprentice .NewYork:MargaretK.McElderryBooks.• AhistoricalfictionchapterbooksetinmedievalEnglandaboutagirlwhodreamsofbecomingapuppeteer.The

author’snoteattheendincludesahistoryofpuppetrythroughoutthecenturies.

Madden,S.(2001).America's Parade:A celebrat ionof Macy's Thanksgiving DayParade. NewYork:TimeLifeBooks.• AnamazingcollectionofphotographsoftheMacy’sParadefromtheLifeMagazinearchives.

McIsaac,F.J.&Stoddard,A.(2010/1921).TonySargMar ionetteBook .XXX:NabuPress.• AreprintoftheoriginalbookaboutTonySargthatiswoventhroughoutthepagesofBalloonsoverBroadway.

Paterson,K.(1975).TheMaster Puppeteer. NewYork:HarperCollins.• AhistoricalfictionnovelbyNewberywinningauthorKatherinePatersonsetinfeudalJapanaboutayoungorphan

wholivesatapuppettheater.

Pease,P.(2002).Macy's OnParade:A pop‐upcelebrationofMacy's ThanksgivingDayParade .XXX:PaintboxPress.• Adelightfulpop‐upbookabouttheparade.

Sarg,T.(2007/1926).Up&Down .NewYork.XXX:Universe.• Originallypublishedin1926,thiscollectionofillustrationsdetailsthebustlingstreetsofNewYorkCity.

Say,A.(2005).Kamish ibaiMan .NewYork:HoughtonMifflinBooksforChildren.• AheartwarmingpicturebookaboutanelderlyJapanesemanwhoreminiscesabouthislifeasanitinerant

storytellerwithaportabletheater.

Schactman,T.(1985).Parade! NewYork:Atheneum.•AphotographicpicturebookdescribingthebackstagepreparationsfortheMacy’sThanksgivingDayParade.TheoriginalversionofthiscurriculumguidecanbefoundonTheClassroomBookshelf(http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com),andwascreatedbyGraceEnriquez,AssistantProfessorofLanguage&LiteracyatLesleyUniversity’sGraduateSchoolofEducationILLUSTRATIONCOPYRIGHTMELISSASWEET,2012FORMOREINFORMATIONCONTACTMELISSASWEET:MELISSA@MELISSASWEET.NET