Customer Reviews

Pop Flop's Great Balloon Ride

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PopFlop the stuffed bunny gets to take a balloon ride during the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (every October--the largest one in the world) one chilly morning. His adventure takes him high above the launch field where he can see the Rio Grande, the Sandia Tram and all the excitement on the ground. Written by balloon pilot Nancy Abruzzo, this is a lovely little story that explains a little about ballooning--how they launch, how they land--in the eyes of a small child. Also available is PopFlop's Activity Book a classroom-oriented activity book that includes reproducible puzzles for older children. In addition to a concise explanation of how balloons work, the activities introduce vocabulary like altitude, parts of the balloon, ballooning history, types of balloons. Like Hot Air Henry by Mary Calhoun, PopFlop explains ballooning without being didactic, and offers the young reader a story with a child who stays on the ground (some stories put a child or an animal in control of a balloon-- even though it's a registered aircraft and pilots must be licensed.) Ages 3 to 7.

For everyone who has experienced hot-air balloning up close or just dreamed of flying away in a rainbow of colors this is a fun book for young children. This book would make a great Birthday or Christmas gift for the young and the young at heart. Albuquerque, NM is the best place in the world to see Pop Flop and all his friends in October during the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.