Offers the story of a young boy who was the first person to ever take flight by doing so in a hot air balloon in Baltimore, many years prior to the Wright brothers' first plane ride.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Kindergarten-Grade 5-Beginning with the endpapers (replicas of 1784 advertisements for a hot-air-balloon exhibition and the newspaper account of its success), Van Leeuwen sets the stage for this tale told through the eyes of 13-year-old Edward Warren, the first person in America to ascend in a balloon. An author's note explains that although the events themselves are factual and Warren's trip aloft has been documented, not much is known about this brave young orphaned apprentice who volunteered to take the first experimental ride. This appealing narrative weaves the established facts with imaginative details of his life. Ventura's oil paintings capture the flavor of the times with crowd scenes that resemble the foreshortened, stiffly posed figures of Colonial times. They alternate with beautifully detailed, realistic renderings of the main characters. Not only will this picture book stir readers' interest in this particular balloon flight, but it will also attract the attention of students studying the time period or learning about the history of aviation. Anik McGrory's Mouton's Impossible Dream (Harcourt, 2000) describes the original launching in France the year before Warren's adventure, but it is told through the eyes of a stowaway sheep and appeals to a younger audience.
Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 1-3. On June 24, 1784, in Baltimore, 13-year-old Edward Warren became the first person in America to go up in a hot-air balloon. In this picture book, Van Leeuwen lets the boy tell his own story, which focuses more on his passion for flight than on the significance of this moment in aviation history. There is, however, still information here: children will learn that tavern-keeper Peter Carnes, who built the balloon, was too heavy to risk going up, which gave daring, young Edward the opportunity to make his dream of flight come true. In an afterword, Van Leeuwen notes that little about Warren is actually known, which may account for the book's rather abrupt ending. Full-page oil paintings are both realistic and solemn as they reflect the colonial times, and two newspaper articles written by Carnes at the time of the actual event appear on the endpapers. Pair this with Anik McGrary's Mouton's Impossible Dream (2000) for an interesting classroom spotlight on early aviation. Julie Cummins
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Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Condition: USED_GOOD. Ventura, Marco (illustrator). Good condition. Good dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Seller Inventory # Q05A-01464
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Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: USED_GOOD. Ventura, Marco (illustrator). 1st Printing. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 9299426-6
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Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Condition: USED_GOOD. Ventura, Marco (illustrator). 1st Printing. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 9299426-6
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Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_GOOD. No Jacket. Ventura, Marco (illustrator). Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.01. Seller Inventory # G0803722583I3N10
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Seller: ThriftBooks-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_GOOD. No Jacket. Ventura, Marco (illustrator). Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 0.9. Seller Inventory # G0803722583I3N10
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Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. No Jacket. Ventura, Marco (illustrator). May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.01. Seller Inventory # G0803722583I4N00
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Seller: Irish Booksellers, Portland, ME, U.S.A.
Condition: USED_GOOD. Ventura, Marco (illustrator). SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 12-0803722583-G
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Seller: Betty Mittendorf /Tiffany Power BKSLINEN, Ralston, NE, U.S.A.
Pictorial Cover. Condition: USED_GOOD. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Marco Ventura (illustrator). 1st Edition. Color illustration on cover and dj. Dj in mylar wrap. Int. good. Color illustrations. Illustrated eps. Usual library markings. Seller Inventory # 133698B
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Seller: Jen's Books, Douglas, WY, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First Printing. book is in very good condition with a good jacket. tight and square binding. light shelf wear- some pieces of DJ torn, small nicks and bumps. no markings. light soiling. moisture damage to top edge. Seller Inventory # 017329
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Hardback. Condition: UNSPECIFIED. Dust Jacket Condition: Vg. First Edition. first printing. Book. Seller Inventory # 024564
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