Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Bristow, David L. Sky Sailors.

Bristow, David L. Sky Sailors
Farrar Strauss see Macmillan children's pub group 2010 134p 18.99 978-0-374-37014-5
ms Balloonists-History VG-BN


Man has always wanted to fly and serious designs have been made since the time of Leonardo. This collection of nine vignettes about these pioneers of human flight takes the reader through the development of balloons until the early twentieth century when the new airplane would displace them.
Man has always wanted to fly and serious designs have been created since the time of Leonardo. It wasn't until 1783, when the Montgolfier brothers sailed the first hot air balloon near Paris, that man actually reached the sky. This collection of nine vignettes about these pioneers of human flight takes the reader through the development of balloons until the early twentieth century when the new airplane would displace them. They describe some of the exciting adventures from that first flight to a doomed Swedish flight to the Arctic to the young women who parachuted out of their balloons to entertain the crowds. Each section combines both history and the scientific discoveries that allowed for the development of bigger and better balloons. The descriptive narrative is filled with vitality and insight and offers a fascinating look at some of the most daring risk-takers of their times. Period illustrations and photographs enhance the text. The book ends with extensive chapter notes, a bibliography of books, articles, and web sites, and an index. Ogintz, Susan

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