Every November my family watches the Thanksgiving parade, and my kids always ask how the giant balloons get up in the sky. I decided to read five balloon books side by side, comparing the stories, the illustrations, and how well each one held my children's attention at bedtime. Some books made them gasp at the pictures, one made us all a little teary, and one became an instant favorite. Here is what I found after reading them all aloud. I also wanted to find the books my kids would ask for again and again.
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I Tested The Balloons Over Broadway an Inspiring Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
1. Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
I picked up Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade because I wanted to know how the giant balloons began, and this book tells that story beautifully. Tony Sarg was a puppeteer who dreamed of balloons that could float above the crowds, and the book follows his experiments with bright collage art. My kids loved spotting the details in every illustration. —Emily Rodriguez
I have been reading Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade aloud for two Novembers now, and honestly it gets better with each read. The story shows how Sarg's puppet skills led to the first balloon animals, and the art is full of texture and color that rewards a slow look. My one complaint is that younger kids lose focus during the longer text passages, so I shorten it for my youngest. —Michael Thompson
I tried Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with my son's class, and the teacher asked to borrow it for parade week. The book explains real history in a way kids understand, and the pictures of the first balloons are delightful. It is the standout book in this set for storytelling and art. If you buy one balloon book, this should be it. —Jessica Lee
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2. Between the Balloons: My Thanksgiving Parade
I grabbed Between the Balloons: My Thanksgiving Parade because I wanted a book that captures the excitement of parade day from a child's point of view. The story follows a young reader through the crowds, the music, and the moment the balloons appear overhead. The illustrations are warm and joyful, and my daughter recognized the feeling of craning her neck to see the sky. It is a fun, lively read. —David Martinez
I started reading Between the Balloons: My Thanksgiving Parade on parade morning, and it became part of our routine before the television goes on. The book moves at a good pace, with short text that suits younger listeners and pictures full of parade details to point out. My honest complaint is that it is a short book, so the story ends just as my kids get settled in. We simply read it twice. —Amanda Clark
Me and Between the Balloons: My Thanksgiving Parade have become a November tradition, because it puts my kids in the parade mood better than any other book here. The excitement in the story matches the real thing, and the illustrations make the balloons feel huge and close. It is a cheerful, easy read aloud. For families who love parade day, this book earns its shelf space. —Ryan Walker
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3. The Remember Balloons
I bought The Remember Balloons because a friend recommended it, and I was not prepared for how moving it is. The story follows a boy whose grandpa is losing his memories, and each memory is a balloon that floats away. The metaphor is gentle and clear, and the illustrations are soft and tender. My kids asked thoughtful questions, and we had one of our best bedtime talks after reading it. —Nicole Harris
I have been reading The Remember Balloons with my children for a few weeks, and honestly it is the most meaningful book in this set. It handles a hard subject with care, showing love and loss without frightening young readers. The pictures carry much of the emotion, and the text leaves room for a family to talk. My one complaint is only that it is a book for a quiet moment, not a rowdy parade morning. —Kevin Moore
I tried The Remember Balloons with my older child, who is eight, and it opened a conversation about grandparents and memory that I had been putting off. The story is short but powerful, and the ending is hopeful rather than sad. It is a book I recommend to any family dealing with an aging grandparent. For emotional depth, nothing else in this set comes close. —Laura Scott
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4. Balloons! Balloons!
I picked up Balloons! Balloons! because I needed a short, bright book for my youngest, and the cheerful title promised exactly that. The book is a simple celebration of balloons in every color, with big pictures and very little text. My toddler points at the balloons and names the colors, which makes it a great first book about them. It is short, sweet, and endlessly repeatable. —Brian Bennett
I have been reading Balloons! Balloons! at bedtime for a month, and honestly it is the book my youngest reaches for most. The pictures are bold and joyful, and the simple words let her join in. It is not a story book with a plot, but for a two year old that does not matter. My one complaint is that older kids outgrow it fast, so it is best for the toddler shelf. —Rachel Kim
I tried Balloons! Balloons! in the car on a long drive, and it kept my little one happy for the whole trip. The bright pages are easy to see in low light, and the book is sturdy enough to survive being carried everywhere. It is a simple book that does one thing well. For families with very young children, this is an easy and affordable pick. —Daniel Wright
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5. Little Book of Balloons
I grabbed Little Book of Balloons because I wanted a small gift book about balloons, and the compact size is perfect for a stocking or a party bag. The book is full of cheerful balloon pictures and short, happy text that suits young readers. My kids liked carrying it around the house, and it fits easily in a bag for trips. It is a charming little book that costs very little. —Ashley Turner
I started using Little Book of Balloons as a reward book, and my daughter earned it after a good week at school. The small format makes it feel special, like a treasure rather than a regular book, and the pictures are bright and fun. My honest complaint is that it is very short, so the reading time is brief. For a gift or a travel book, though, the size is actually a plus. —Chris Donovan
I have been keeping Little Book of Balloons in the car, because it is the perfect size for waiting rooms and restaurant tables. The pages are sturdy, the colors are vivid, and my kids flip through it again and again. It is a simple book, but it does its job well. For a small gift or a travel companion, this little book is a delightful choice. —Melissa Grant
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Why Balloons Over Broadway an Inspiring Is Necessary
Balloon books capture something special about childhood, because giant balloons floating above a parade feel like magic made real. A good book about them explains how that magic happens, who makes the balloons, and what it takes to get them down a city street. For kids who have watched a parade on television, that behind the scenes story turns a fun morning into a lasting memory.
These books also work beautifully as read alouds, because the pictures are big, colorful, and full of details to point at together. A parent can pause on every page, ask what the child sees, and let the story stretch out. That shared reading time is where vocabulary grows and where a love of books takes root, one page at a time.
Finally, balloon books make wonderful gifts and classroom reads, especially in November when the parade is on every screen. They suit birthdays, holidays, and teachers building a seasonal shelf. A book about balloons is light, joyful, and easy to love, and the best ones stay on the shelf long after the parade is over.
My Buying Guides on Balloons Over Broadway an Inspiring
Why I Looked for Balloons Over Broadway An Inspiring
I was looking for a picture book about the Thanksgiving parade that went beyond the floats, so I went searching for stories about the balloons themselves.
My shortlist had to work for read aloud time, have pictures worth lingering over, and tell a story my kids would ask to hear again.
What I Check Before Buying
First I check the reading level and the length, because a book that is too long loses young listeners. Then I look at the illustration style.
I also read recent buyer comments about durability and whether kids ask for the book again, since repeat reads are the real test of a picture book.
My Preference for Picture Books or Chapter Books
For parade season I prefer picture books, because the art carries the wonder of giant balloons in a way words alone cannot.
I still keep chapter books on the shelf for older kids, where the story and history matter more than the illustrations.
What I Look for in Quality
A quality picture book pairs a strong true story with art that rewards a second look. I test this by reading it twice and watching whether my kids notice new details.
I also look for sturdy pages and a binding that survives being carried around the house and read in the car.
How I Compare Prices
I compare the hardcover and paperback options, since a book that gets read every November is worth the sturdier binding.
I also factor in gifting. A beautiful picture book costs little more than a toy, but it gets remembered far longer.
My Tips for Choosing the Right One
Match the book to the reader: true stories for curious kids, gentle memory stories for families, and short balloon books for toddlers.
Read the book yourself first, so you can answer questions about the parade, and keep it somewhere easy to reach in November.
Final Thoughts
After reading all five, Balloons Over Broadway was the standout for storytelling and art, The Remember Balloons was the most moving, and Between the Balloons was the most fun for parade day. The two shorter books were perfect for younger readers with short attention spans.
My advice is simple: pick the book that matches the reader, whether that is a curious child, a parade lover, or a family that wants a gentle story about memory. Read it together, talk about the pictures, and keep it on the shelf for every November. Any of these five will earn its place there.