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The Big Balloon Race

The Big Balloon Race

Written by Eleanor Coerr & Pictures by Carolyn Croll

Summary: This is a story about a woman named Carlotta Myers and her daughter Ariel. Carlotta was  an aeronaut who flew in hot air balloons. One morning, it was the day of the big race. Balloonists from all over the country would come to compete for the gold medal. Ariel wished that she could ride in the balloon with her mother, but she said no because she was too young. When they got to the grounds of the race, everyone was there. The townspeople, the other competitors, and even the mayor! Carlotta told Ariel that she could stand in the basket until take off, but that she would need to get out when the race was about to begin. Ariel agreed to her mothers conditions and sat in the basket. 
However, this is when the mayor began to give his speech: a long one. Ariel quickly became bored and curled up in a storage space and fell asleep. She did not hear the race begin! When she woke up, she was in the air! Carlotta was shocked when she saw her awaken and suddenly realized, with Ariel's extra weight, they were going to hit the trees! So she threw some of the bags of sand she had out of the basket and up they zoomed! After getting caught in an updraft, an air stream, and a dark rain cloud the basket was headed for the lake! Ariel and Carlotta threw everything that they could spare overboard, but it was no use: they hit the water! Ariel jumped overboard where the water was shallow to help lighten the load, but the basket was already too wet to be lifted back into the air.
Just then, Carlotta saw all of the other competitors heading for them! They were going to beat her and her mom! So Carlotta handed her a rope from the balloon in a last chance effort to win. The basket was easy to pull because the Ballon was still filled with hydrogen. Carlotta jumped out of the basket to help Ariel pull the basket onto land and the next thing they knew, they had won the race! The mayor gave Ariel the gold medal and everyone was so excited for her. 

Review: This exciting story is marked for children grades 2-4 for independent reading. This read is sure to keep students excited with its quick paced plot and exciting ending. The illustrations look like cartoons and portray vivid and beautiful colors. I enjoy this book a lot because it focuses on a time in history that isn't really talked about our history classes. There really was a time in the 1800's when people gathered for large balloon races. This is a cool fact, I think. This chapter book would also be a great book for classroom read alouds. 


-The Green Eyed Reader
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