Balloons Over Broadway

The Problem Nobody Talks About: We’ve Forgotten the Genius Behind Our Traditions

Here’s what bugs me.

We parade our kids in front of the television every Thanksgiving morning, watch those massive balloons float by, and never once explain the absolute brilliance behind them.

We’ve normalized magic without understanding the mechanics.

And that’s a shame, because Tony Sarg’s story is the kind of problem-solving adventure that every kid (and tired parent) desperately needs right now.

Who the Heck Was Tony Sarg, Anyway?

Tony Sarg wasn’t born doing spectacular things.

He was an immigrant puppeteer who taught himself everything he knew.

No fancy degrees. No trust fund. No connections.

Just curiosity, determination, and an obsessive need to figure out how things worked.

Sound familiar? That’s because he’s basically every creative person who’s ever tried to make something from nothing.

The book captures this beautifully through Sweet’s collage illustrations—which, by the way, look like someone raided an antique shop and a craft store, then assembled pure nostalgia on every page.

The Macy’s Disaster That Changed Everything

Picture this: 1920s New York City.

Macy’s decides to throw a parade to celebrate Thanksgiving and boost holiday shopping.

Their brilliant idea? Bring live animals from the Central Park Zoo.

Lions. Bears. Elephants. The whole intimidating zoo crew marching down Broadway.

Except there was one tiny problem: Children were absolutely terrified.

Nothing says “family fun” quite like a traumatized five-year-old screaming at the sight of a real bear lumbering toward them.

Macy’s needed a solution, fast.

Enter the Puppet Master With a Radical Solution

When Macy’s approached Tony Sarg, he could have played it safe.

Traditional puppets. Maybe some nice displays. Easy paycheck.

Instead, he thought: What if puppets could fly?

What if I could create giant upside-down puppets that floated above the crowd instead of marching through it?

Here’s where his genius kicks in:

• He contacted manufacturers in Ohio who worked with rubberized silk
• He figured out that helium could lift these massive creations
• He designed systems of ropes and handlers to control them
• He essentially invented inflatable parade balloons as we know them

The man looked at traditional puppetry—where strings hang down from above—and literally flipped the entire concept upside down.

If you’ve got a creative kid who loves building things, grab them a quality puppet-making kit and show them this book.

Watch their minds explode.

Why This Book Belongs in Your Home (Even If You’re Not “Into” Picture Books)

I’ll be straight with you.

I’m not naturally drawn to children’s books that feel educational.

Too often they’re preachy, boring, or so dumbed-down that even kids roll their eyes.

Balloons Over Broadway breaks every single one of those rules.

The Collage Illustrations Are Absolutely Stunning

Melissa Sweet didn’t just draw pictures.

She created tactile, dimensional artwork using:

• Vintage paper and newsprint
• Fabric scraps and ribbons
• Photographs and tickets
• Hand-lettered text and diagrams

Every page feels like you’re peeking into Tony Sarg’s actual workshop.

The illustrations alone make this worth displaying on your coffee table with your other decorative coffee table books.

It Teaches STEM Without Feeling Like Homework

This book won the Cook Prize for outstanding STEM picture books, and I finally understand why STEM educators lose their minds over it.

Sarg’s process demonstrates:

• Physics: How helium works, weight distribution, buoyancy
• Engineering: Designing control systems for massive floating objects
• Problem-solving: Iterating when ideas don’t work the first time
• Innovation: Seeing old problems through completely new frameworks

My nephew now understands basic physics concepts because he wanted to know how Felix the Cat could float in 1927.

That’s the kind of sneaky education I can get behind.

Creating Your Own “Balloons Over Broadway” Inspired Thanksgiving Corner

After reading this book seventeen times (not my choice—the kids demanded it), I realized it deserved a permanent spot in our Thanksgiving traditions.

The Reading Space Setup

Start with comfort:

Position a cozy reading chair near good natural light.

Kids won’t sit still for story time if they’re uncomfortable, and neither will you after the third read-through.

Add thematic touches:

I hung vintage-style balloon decorations around the space—nothing crazy, just subtle nods to the parade aesthetic.

A few strategically placed props make the story feel alive.

Create a small display area:

I snagged a simple floating shelf and created a mini-exhibition space:

• The book itself, displayed open to a favorite illustration
• A small vintage toy or puppet
• Photos from our own parade visits
• The kids’ balloon drawings inspired by the book

Making It Interactive

Don’t just read—create alongside the story.

We keep basic craft supplies nearby during November:

• Scissors and glue sticks
• Construction paper in fall colors
• Markers and colored pencils
• Old magazines for cutting (channeling Sweet’s collage style)

After reading, the kids design their own parade balloon concepts.

Some are ridiculous. Most are ridiculous, actually.

But that’s exactly what Tony Sarg would have wanted—unbridled imagination without fear of “getting it wrong.”

The Awards Don’t Lie (But Here’s What They Don’t Tell You)

Let me rattle off the accolades real quick:

• 2012 Sibert Medal (top