Up and Away!: How Two Brothers Invented the Hot-Air Balloon

The moment we saw the beautiful cover, we had to flip through the pages to see the even more gorgeous artwork inside. The illustrations are vibrant, engaging and tell the story as much as the prose does. Henry’s words leap off the page and bring to life the 1700’s as if it was happening right in front of you. The text is structured to make it easy for young children to read and engage in the story, but the entire book and true to history content will engage readers even up to middle school. The story depicts two, innovative brothers who chose to look beyond their every day lives, challenge what’s possible with the technology of their time, and achieved the impossible. This story inspires young readers that even they could one day be honored by Kings, Queens, and Heads of State. Henry finds a perfect balance between whimsical story-telling and a high educational standard in this easy to read book.I would recommend this book for those reading to children as young as 3, and it is great for those children 5 and up who have learned to read and are looking for an engaging story. This will no doubt be a top gift this Christmas and will quickly be added to elementary classrooms everywhere!

Such a great picture book about the two brothers who invented the first hot air balloon. It is very well written, with informative sentences that are still fun to read and tell an engaging story. The illustrations work perfectly, enhancing the text and giving more detail to the events portrayed. (Like aerial scenes of Versailles!) We used this to accompany a homeschool lesson about the hot air balloon and Montgolfier brothers. It was a very fun lesson!! This book made all the difference!! And there's a great timeline in the back for more historical context.The quality of the book itself is also very impressive: nice, thick paper and a lovely texture. It also has 8 more pages than a typical picture book. What a great addition to my home library!

This story is so fun, and a great book to share with kids. Inspiring and steeped in history, and will get kids excited about dreaming, science, observation and trying something big! I think kids today have fewer options of children's books that are great stories, well-written and beautifully illustrated by authors today. Must be a sign of the times. But, this one takes the cake for a children's book that I can safely read for kids and tell a good story.

Love this book as it can grow with your little one! We started reading it when she was 2 years old searching for the hen, sheep and duck in every pages as we progressed through the story. Super fun! As she grow she goes more into the facts and asking questions. Plus I got to learn myself a great history.

What does a duck, rooster, and a sheep have to do with modern aviation? This story will amaze you. Up and Away! is a beautiful picture book depicting the true story about the invention of the hot air balloon. It celebrates teamwork, creativity, persistence and the ultimate inventor spirit while entertaining both young and old. The art is incredible. Characters come alive and leap off of the pages.