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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
McGrory bases her spirited debut on the true story of the world's first free-flying balloon flight, masterminded in 1783 by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier near the palace of Versailles. Each day, Mouton, a sheep living on the Montgolfier farm, gazes longingly on the brothers' drawings of flying machines and declares, "Someday I'm going to fly." Then one day the farmers load their wagon with the drawings and materials to construct a flying balloon. They also pack the rooster, as one brother, in one of McGrory's clever handwritten asides, queries, "C'est mon d?ner?" The sheep and duck surreptitiously follow the wagon to Versailles and, after reaching the palace grounds, the animals hide in a large basket, which turns out to be the base of the flying balloon. The brothers decide to let the three creatures test the balloon ("If the animals can fly, we'll know it's safe!") and Mouton's "impossible dream" comes true. McGrory's watercolors make less of an impact than her text, in part because her palette often seems washed out. She incorporates period details and her animals frequently sport endearing expressions, but her compositions aren't always sufficiently filled in or framed to show off these strengths. On balance, however, the book offers a diverting mix of fact and fancy. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-When the Montgolfier brothers were experimenting with hot-air balloon flight in 1783, their first passengers were supposedly a sheep, a rooster, and a duck. If the animals survived, the men would know that the air in the sky was safe to breathe, and they could begin manned flights. McGrory has used this historical tidbit as the basis for her own flight of fancy. Mouton the sheep longs to fly, and spends hours examining the sketches the Montgolfiers leave in the barn. Canard, the duck, echoes her enthusiasm, but Cocorico, the rooster, is skeptical, insisting "sheep are not made to fly." The animals follow the brothers and their balloon to the palace of Versailles for its demonstration flight before Marie Antoinette. There, they are thrust into a basket and launched. The flight is successful, the animals are ecstatic, and the queen rewards them for their bravery. Unfortunately, the characterizations are flat, and as McGrory's focus is primarily on the passengers rather than on the unique brothers or the excitement surrounding this historically significant flight, the story remains grounded as well. The watercolor illustrations are pleasant but unexceptional. For a fun read about an animal and a hot-air balloon, stick with Mary Calhoun's Hot-Air Henry (Morrow, 1981).
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
McGrory bases her spirited debut on the true story of the world's first free-flying balloon flight, masterminded in 1783 by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier near the palace of Versailles. Each day, Mouton, a sheep living on the Montgolfier farm, gazes longingly on the brothers' drawings of flying machines and declares, "Someday I'm going to fly." Then one day the farmers load their wagon with the drawings and materials to construct a flying balloon. They also pack the rooster, as one brother, in one of McGrory's clever handwritten asides, queries, "C'est mon d?ner?" The sheep and duck surreptitiously follow the wagon to Versailles and, after reaching the palace grounds, the animals hide in a large basket, which turns out to be the base of the flying balloon. The brothers decide to let the three creatures test the balloon ("If the animals can fly, we'll know it's safe!") and Mouton's "impossible dream" comes true. McGrory's watercolors make less of an impact than her text, in part because her palette often seems washed out. She incorporates period details and her animals frequently sport endearing expressions, but her compositions aren't always sufficiently filled in or framed to show off these strengths. On balance, however, the book offers a diverting mix of fact and fancy. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-When the Montgolfier brothers were experimenting with hot-air balloon flight in 1783, their first passengers were supposedly a sheep, a rooster, and a duck. If the animals survived, the men would know that the air in the sky was safe to breathe, and they could begin manned flights. McGrory has used this historical tidbit as the basis for her own flight of fancy. Mouton the sheep longs to fly, and spends hours examining the sketches the Montgolfiers leave in the barn. Canard, the duck, echoes her enthusiasm, but Cocorico, the rooster, is skeptical, insisting "sheep are not made to fly." The animals follow the brothers and their balloon to the palace of Versailles for its demonstration flight before Marie Antoinette. There, they are thrust into a basket and launched. The flight is successful, the animals are ecstatic, and the queen rewards them for their bravery. Unfortunately, the characterizations are flat, and as McGrory's focus is primarily on the passengers rather than on the unique brothers or the excitement surrounding this historically significant flight, the story remains grounded as well. The watercolor illustrations are pleasant but unexceptional. For a fun read about an animal and a hot-air balloon, stick with Mary Calhoun's Hot-Air Henry (Morrow, 1981).
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
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