Sophie is a shy child who prefers her own company. She finds many every day things quite frightening and so the family leave her at home when they head off to the Fair. On the poster there are clowns, rides, fireworks and wild animals but most thrilling of all is the huge hot air balloon. Sophie loves the idea of a balloon floating across the sky.
After the family all head off, Sophie decides she will go, she will be brave. She overcomes some of her fear of dogs and strangers and manages to hitch a ride with a local farmer who is also going to the fair. Once she arrives she finds the hot air balloon which is of course tethered to the ground. She peers inside and then quietly climbs in. At that moment the balloonist arrives and before she can speak, they lift off into the sky. It is thrilling and quiet, after the noisy fair, and simply wonderful.
Late last year I talked about Sky Chasers by Emma Carroll. My book today is an easier read about a similar time period and the thrill of riding in a hot air balloon.
Sophie takes to the sky is based on the true story of Sophie Blanchard who was born in France in 1778. She was sixteen when she made her first hot air balloon flight.
"She became famous for her daring night-time flights, for launching fireworks from her balloon and for dangerous adventures like crossing the Alps by balloon."
This book comes from the Little Gems series - click the link below to read about other books in this terrific series which I will say once again should be added to every Primary school library collection.
Here is another book from the Little Gems series by Katherine Woodfine:
I do love illustrations by Briony May Smith:
No comments:
Post a Comment