title: Sky Sailors: True Stories of the Balloon Era
author: David L. Bristow
description: Gr 4-7With equal parts adventure and science, Bristow chronicles the invention and development of the hot-air balloon, from initial attempts in France in 1783 that were viewed with suspicion and fear, through the very early 20th century when people were using balloons to execute daring feats to entertain crowds. The writing is crisp and lively, and readers will be easily drawn into the stories of these early risk-takers. Vivid detail, imaginative storytelling, and artwork from the period all make for a compelling account of a bygone time. Thorough source notes, an extensive bibliography, and further-reading lists are included.Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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  A Voyage in a Balloon
  
  
    
  
  
    
  [I. My Ascension at Frankfort—The Balloon, the Gas, the Apparatus, the
  Ballast—An Unexpected Travelling Companion—Conversation in the
  Air—Anecdotes—At 800 Metres[A]—The Portfolio of the Pale Young Man—Pictures
  and Caricatures—Des Rosiers and d'Arlandes—At 1200 Metres—Atmospheric
  Phenomena—The Philosopher Charles—Systems—Blanchard—Guyton-Morveaux—M.
  Julien—M. Petin—At 1500 Metres—The Storm—Great Personages in Balloons—The
  Valve—The Curious Animals—The Aerial Ship—Game of Balloons.  
  
  
    
  [II. The Company of Aerostiers—The Battle of Fleurus—The Balloon over the
  Sea—Blanchard and Jefferies—A Drama such as is rarely seen—3000 Metres—The
  Thunder beneath our Feet—Gavnerin at Rome—The Compass gone—The Victims of
  Aerostation—Pilatre—At 4000 Metres—The Barometer gone—Descents of Olivari,
  Mosment, Bittorf, Harris, Sadler, and Madame Blanchard—The Valve rendered
  useless—7000 Metres—Zambecarri—The Ballon (sic) Wrecked—Incalculable
  