Author/Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman
Genre: Historical Fiction
Awards: Caldecott Honor Award
Age Level: 4-8 years old
Summary: Hot Air is a report of the first hot air balloon take off at the palace of Versailles in France on September 19, 1783. The story begins with describing the even including scientists, schoolchildren, opera singers, and architects. When the demonstration began after months of sleepless nights from the inventors, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier, they could not wait for their invention to take flight. This historical and impactful even from the Montgolfiers constructed many others since the first flight including the Avignon, and Annonay. The story takes a silly turn when the duck, sheep, and rooster are launched into the air. They pop, they quack, they cluck, they even duck while passing through the cloudy skies. As the animals return safely, we applaud them for the efforts. Readers can appreciate the intelligence and perseverance it took to invent the first hot air balloon.
Illustrations: The colorful pages were full of cartoon-like animals and human. Onomatopoeia fills the pages while the animals fly through the light blue/pink skies. The expression painted on each character was dramatic and original.
In my classroom, I would have my students represent their own hot air balloon including its passengers. This would allow room for creativity and at the same time a fun way to learn about the historical event of the first hot air balloon. If any students have ridden in a hot air balloon prior, this would be a great time for them to share their own personal experience to the class.
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