balloons over broadway discussion guide - melissa sweet
TRANSCRIPT
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011
ISBN # 9780547199450 Grades 3 and up
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Awards and Honors
2012 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner
2012 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
2012 Cook Prize honoring the best science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) picture book
2012 The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award
2012 Jefferson Cup Award :: Virginia Library Association
2012 ALA Notable Book
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading & Sharing
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About The Book The2012SibertAwardwinnerfornonfictionisacelebrationofacelebration—orspecifically,themanwhomadetheannualMacy’sThanksgivingDayParadeoneofthemostjubilantyearlyeventsofthelastcentury.InBalloonsoverBroadway,CaldecottHonorartistMelissaSweetintroducesustoTonySarg,theself‐taughtpuppeteerwhocreatedtheenormoushalfballoon,halfpuppetsthatdistinguishtheMacy’sparadefromotherholidayfestivities.Mixingamusingsidecommentary(awoodenpuppetexplainsthat(“Sargrhymeswithaargh!)withnudgingquestions(“Still,howwouldTonymakehisbigpuppetsmove?),SweettracesSarg’sjourneyfromachildhoodofcreativityandresourcefulnesstohisgroundbreakingsuccessaswhatmanyconsidertheFatherofAmericanPuppetry.ButwhattrulyinfusesthispicturebookbiographywithjoyfromendpagetoendpageisSweet’smixedmediaillustrations.Withitsjoyfulpaletteandplethoraofwhimsicalfigures,Sweet’sartisticstylemightaswellbeeponymous.Sweetalsoprovidesenoughinstructivediagrams,includingexcerptsfromSarg’sownsketchesandsamplesofhiscreations,topiqueeventhemostpassivepuppetfan’sinterest.Takenote,too,ofthesurprisingdoublepagespreadthatdemonstratesSarg’sbreakthroughofpuppetengineering.Sharethisbookinyourclassroom,andwatcheveryonejointhecelebration. Teaching Invitations A Note about Connections to the Common Core State Standards ManyoftheCCSSAnchorStandardscanbeaddressedthroughtheTeachingInvitationsdescribedbelow.Refertothestandardsforeachparticulargradetodeterminehowdeeplytoengageintheactivitiestomeetthatgrade’sstandards. • Tony Sarg, the Complete Artist. TonySargwasnotjustaninnovativepuppeteer;he
wasalsoatoydesigner,animator,andauthorandillustratorofdozensofchildren’sbooks.Inviteyourstudentstoconductmoreresearchonthisprolificartisttobuildamorecompletepictureofhisaccomplishments.Havethemsharetheirfindingswiththeclass,andthenpresenttheirinformationtoothersintheschool.SeethearticleinNewYorkMagazineaboutSarg’sillustrationsandthevarioustitlesandwebsiteslistedonpage3inFurtherExplorations.
CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading7,9,10;Writing7,8,9;Speaking&Listening4,5,6
• Puppets and Storytelling. Puppetshavebeenusedtotellandactoutstoriesthroughouthistory.Furthermore,usingpuppetsisapopularwaytoengagestudentsinstorytellingintheclassroom.Theyalsohelpstudentspracticetheirfluencyandprosodyskills.Usetheresourceslistedonpage3inFurtherExplorations,suchastheJimHensonvideosandresourceslistedonpage3inFurtherExplorations,suchastheJimHensonvideosand“StorytellingwithPuppets”tohelpyourstudentscreatepuppetsandpracticestorytelling.ThePuppeteersCooperative(http://puppetco‐op.org)hasdozensofsetsofinstructionsforbuildingyourownpuppets,fromhandpuppetstolife‐sizeones.
CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading4,7;Writing3;Speaking&Listening2,5
• The People Behind the Puppets. Inherauthor’snote,MelissaSweetexplainsthatmuchofTonySarg’ssuccesswasduetotheworkofhistalentedapprentices.Infact,shetracesthemaster‐apprenticerelationshipfromSargallthewaytoJimHenson,creatoroftheMuppets.Engageyourstudentsinexplorationsabouttheseapprenticestolearnmoreaboutthepeoplebehindthepuppets,andhavethemsharewhattheylearninwritten,spoken,visual,ordigitalformats.Usethebookslistedonpage3intheFurther
Explorationssection,andwatchBeingElmo,thedocumentaryaboutKevinClash,thesoft‐spokenmanbehindoneoftoday’smostpopularpuppets,wholikewiseapprenticedunderJimHensontocontinueSarg'slineage.
CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading1,2,3,7,9,10;Writing2,4,6,7,8,9;Speaking&Listening2,4,5,6;Language1,2,3
• Puppetry across Cultures. SweetmentionsthatSargwasinspiredbyanIndonesianrodpuppettocreatetheparade’sfirstballoons,butpuppetryhasbeenanartforminvariousculturesacrosstheworldthroughouthistory.Inviteyourstudentstoexplorethepuppetryofdifferentcultures,comparingandcontrastingthemwitheachotheraswellasSarg’screations.Forwhatpurposesarethepuppetsused?Whatmaterialsareusedtomakethem?Finally,challengeyourstudentstocreatepuppetsinspiredbydiverseculturesanddisplaythemthroughouttheschool.
CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading4,7,9,10
• Community Parades. Engage your students in a study of their local community parades. Visit your local library and have them research the various parades, their purposes, their routes, and their histories, with particular attention to how the parades have evolved over time. If they have families or neighbors who are longtime residents of the community, encourage students to interview them about the parades and perhaps view old photographs of them. Create a book or website in which the class compiles its findings to share with local community members. CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading7,9,10;Writing1‐10;Speaking&Listening1,2,3,5;Language1,2,3
• Focused Biographies.Althoughbiographiesaretechnicallynarratedaccountsofaperson’slife,manybiographiesactuallyconcentrateononeoftwosignificanteventsthatthepersonexperienced.Thisisoftenthecasewithpicturebookbiographies,suchasBalloonsoverBroadway,whichfocusesonlyontheeventsrelatedtoTonySarg’screationoftheMacy’sParadeballoons.Usingthisasamentortext,haveyourstudentswriteabiographyorperhapsanautobiographythatcentersononeimportantoccasioninthesubject’slife.Forcomparison,sharewiththemKathleenKrull'spicturebookbiographyofJimHenson(seecitationintheFurtherExplorationssectiononpage3).Youmayevenwanttochallengethemtowriteandillustratethatbiographyasapicturebooktosharewiththeclass.
CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading2,5,6,9;Writing2,4,5,7,9;Language1,2,3,5,6
• Nonfiction Book Awards. BalloonsoverBroadwayhasgarneredtwoprestigiousawardsforexcellenceinanonfictionchildren’sbook:theSibertMedalfromtheAmericanLibraryAssociation,andtheOrbusPictusAwardfromtheNationalCouncilofTeachersofEnglish.CompareandcontrastthecriteriafortheSibertMedalandtheOrbusPictusAward,anddeterminehowthisbookmeetsthosecriteria.Invitestudentstostudybooksthatwonhonorablementionandotherbooksthatwoninpastyears.Then,haveyourstudentsapplythosecriteriatoavastswathofnonfictionbooksforchildrenandyoungadultstobuildtheirskillsforevaluatingliterature.
CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading1‐10;Language4,6
Critical Literacy • What Makes an American Celebration? TheMacy'sParadebeganasatributetoits
immigrantemployees.Additionally,SweetnotesthatTonySargwasanimmigrant,althoughlittleattentionisgiventohisownculturalroots.WhydoyouthinkSweetdoesthis?WhatothersignificantcontributionstoAmericanculturalcelebrationshavebeenmadebyimmigrants?Whatmakessomethingan"American"traditionifitsbasisisanimmigrantexperience?Moreover,whyaresomeculturalcelebrationsandparades‐‐suchthoseforSt.Patrick'sDay‐‐embracedacrossthecountry,whileothers‐‐liketheChineseNewYear‐‐arerelegatedtospecificregionsorpartsoftown?Invitestudentstoexplorethesequestions.
CCSSAnchorStandards:Reading1,3,5,6,8;Speaking&Listening1,2,3,4,6
• The Economic, Social, and Cultural Capital of Puppeteers. Manypeopleenjoytheentertainmentprovidedbypuppeteers,butrelativelyfewactuallyaspiretobecomeoneandpursueacareerinpuppetry.Andofthosethatdo,storiesofthoselikeTonySargandJimHensonarerare.Giventhefeatsofcreativityandengineering‐‐andthepossibilityforfameandculturalcontributioninvolved‐‐whyisthisso?Howarepuppetsandpuppeteersviewedsociallyorprofessionallyinvariouscultures?Whataretheeconomicrealitiesofpuppeteers,aswellastheeconomiccontributionsoftheircraft?GiventheresurgenceofpopularinterestintheMuppetfranchise,aretheresomeformsofpuppetrythataremoreacceptableorappreciatedthanothers?Howso?Inaway,thesequestionsapplytoallwhopursueartandentertainmentintheircareersandareimportanttounderstandingwhatdiverseculturesvalue.Usethesequestionsandthisteachinginvitationtobuilduponanyoftheotherslistedabovetodeepenstudents’knowledgeaboutthelivesofpuppeteers.
CCSSAnchorStandards:Speaking&Listening1,2,3,4
Further Explorations Online Resources RobertF.SibertInformationalBookMedal–AmericanLibraryAssociationhttp://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedalOrbusPictusAward–NationalCouncilofTeachersofEnglishhttp://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictusMelissaSweet’swebsite:http://melissasweet.netBalloonsoverBroadwayActivityKithttp://www.hmhbooks.com/kids/resources/BalloonsOverBroadway_ActivityKit.pdfOfficialMacy’sThanksgivingDayParadewebsite:http://www.macys.com/paradePuppeteersofAmericahttp://www.puppeteers.orgThePuppeteersCooperativehttp://puppetco‐op.orgTonySarg–entrybyTwinCitiesPuppeteers:http://www.tcpuppet.org/NewFiles/Sarg.htmlBeingElmo‐informationaboutthedocumentaryaboutKevinClash,theSesameStreetpuppeteerhttp://beingelmo.comHowStuffWorks–HeliumBalloons:http://www.howstuffworks.com/helium.htm
HowStuffWorks–Macy’sThanksgivingDayParadehttp://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/macys‐thanksgiving‐day‐parade.htm"TheZoomingTwenties"–articleinNewYorkMagazineonTonySarg’sillustrationshttp://nymag.com/arts/books/features/29703/StorytellingwithPuppetshttp://www.libsci.sc.edu/storytelling/techniques/collinspuppethanout.pdfStoryteller.net:http://www.storyteller.net/JimHensonvideosaboutpuppetmaking:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC440k6iByAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7JFw‐9QUrsBooks Corey,S.(2002).Millyand the Macy's Parade .NewYork:Scholastic.• ThisappealingpicturebookprovidesahistoricallyfictiveaccountoftheoriginsoftheMacy’sThanksgiving
DayParade.
Huser,G.(2005).St itches .Toronto,ONT:GroundwoodBooks.• Ahistoricalfictionchapterbookaboutayoungboywhofacesbullyingandsocialdiscriminationasheattemptsto
stageapuppetproductionofAMidsummerNight’sDream.
Krull,K.(2011).JimHenson :Theguywho played with puppets .NewYork:RandomHouse.• ApicturebookbiographyofthefamouscreatoroftheMuppets.
Love,D.A.(2004).ThePuppeteer’s Apprentice .NewYork:MargaretK.McElderryBooks.• AhistoricalfictionchapterbooksetinmedievalEnglandaboutagirlwhodreamsofbecomingapuppeteer.The
author’snoteattheendincludesahistoryofpuppetrythroughoutthecenturies.
Madden,S.(2001).America's Parade:A celebrat ionof Macy's Thanksgiving DayParade. NewYork:TimeLifeBooks.• AnamazingcollectionofphotographsoftheMacy’sParadefromtheLifeMagazinearchives.
McIsaac,F.J.&Stoddard,A.(2010/1921).TonySargMar ionetteBook .XXX:NabuPress.• AreprintoftheoriginalbookaboutTonySargthatiswoventhroughoutthepagesofBalloonsoverBroadway.
Paterson,K.(1975).TheMaster Puppeteer. NewYork:HarperCollins.• AhistoricalfictionnovelbyNewberywinningauthorKatherinePatersonsetinfeudalJapanaboutayoungorphan
wholivesatapuppettheater.
Pease,P.(2002).Macy's OnParade:A pop‐upcelebrationofMacy's ThanksgivingDayParade .XXX:PaintboxPress.• Adelightfulpop‐upbookabouttheparade.
Sarg,T.(2007/1926).Up&Down .NewYork.XXX:Universe.• Originallypublishedin1926,thiscollectionofillustrationsdetailsthebustlingstreetsofNewYorkCity.
Say,A.(2005).Kamish ibaiMan .NewYork:HoughtonMifflinBooksforChildren.• AheartwarmingpicturebookaboutanelderlyJapanesemanwhoreminiscesabouthislifeasanitinerant
storytellerwithaportabletheater.
Schactman,T.(1985).Parade! NewYork:Atheneum.•AphotographicpicturebookdescribingthebackstagepreparationsfortheMacy’sThanksgivingDayParade.TheoriginalversionofthiscurriculumguidecanbefoundonTheClassroomBookshelf(http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com),andwascreatedbyGraceEnriquez,AssistantProfessorofLanguage&LiteracyatLesleyUniversity’sGraduateSchoolofEducationILLUSTRATIONCOPYRIGHTMELISSASWEET,2012FORMOREINFORMATIONCONTACTMELISSASWEET:[email protected]