The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pne du

Bois

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Original Title: The Twenty-One Balloons

ISBN: 0140320970
ISBN13: 9780140320978
Autor: William Pne du Bois
Rating: 3.8 of 5 stars (3176) counts
Original Format: Paperback, 180 pages
Download Format: PDF, DJVU, iBook, MP3.
Published: 1986 / by Puffin / (first published 1947)
Language: English
Genre(s):
Fiction- 231 users
Childrens- 185 users
Fantasy- 147 users
Classics- 124 users
Adventure- 120 users

Description:

A Newbery Medal Winner

Professor William Waterman Sherman intends to fly across the Pacific Ocean. But through a twist
of fate, he lands on Krakatoa, and discovers a world of unimaginable wealth, eccentric inhabitants,
and incredible balloon inventions.Winner of the 1948 Newbery Medal, this classic fantasy-
adventure is now available in a handsome new edition.

"William Pene du Bois combines his rich imagination, scientific tastes, and brilliant artistry
to tell astory that has no age limit."The Horn Book

About Author:

Other Editions:

- The Twenty-One Balloons (Puffin Modern Classics)

- The Twenty-One Balloons (Hardcover)

- The Twenty-One Balloons (Puffin Modern Classics)

- The Twenty-One Balloons (Paperback)

- The Twenty-One Balloons

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Rewiews:

May 05, 2011

K.D. Absolutely
Rated it: liked it
Recommended to K.D. by:
Kwesi
Shelves: childrens
One month after graduating from college, I started working. That was in 1984. I am now in my 4th
company and except for my paid vacation leaves and rare sick days, I have never been, even a
single day, out of the corporate rate race.
27 years of working and trying to earn a living.
I know it is still far from the 40 years of being a math teacher in some high school for Professor
William Waterman Sherman but once in a while, I also feel that I need to do something
outrageous. Maybe just to break t
One month after graduating from college, I started working. That was in 1984. I am now in my 4th
company and except for my paid vacation leaves and rare sick days, I have never been, even a
single day, out of the corporate rate race.
27 years of working and trying to earn a living.
I know it is still far from the 40 years of being a math teacher in some high school for Professor
William Waterman Sherman but once in a while, I also feel that I need to do something
outrageous. Maybe just to break the monotony of my corporate work life. Not necessarily riding an
air balloon because it is pricey here in the Philippines. During the Summer Hot Air Balloon Festival
in Clark Pampanga, last time I heard, they offer a 30-min ride for P20,000 (~ US$450). I would not
want my savings to go to waste, only for 30 mins! Professor Sherman had no family so he was
able to afford two giant air (not hot air) balloons constructed to his taste after he retired at the age
of 66. He left everything in San Francisco and embarked on the journey of going around the world
via his giant air balloon via the Pacific Ocean.
I wish I could do something like that. At some point in our lives, burnout comes in and we just want
to break free. Leave everything behind and do the things that we really enjoy. Oh well, maybe
thats part of the reason why I try to do something that other people say is impossible: reading
books included in the 1001 list. Books bring us to places whose nature sometimes goes beyond
our imagination. In books, we also meet people who we never thought existed and know situations
that could make us feel more fortunate and blessed.
The Twenty-One Balloons won the Newberry Award in 1948. It is a sci-fi utopian childrens book
by William Pene de Bois (1916-2993) an American-French illustrator and novelist. The writing is
simple but its whimsical ingenuity is amazing. Some strange ideas look plausible like the Balloon
Merry-Go-Round and I thought I would like to ride on it if the price will not be too prohibitive ha ha.
The utopian kind of economic setup in Krakatoa is something that is possible too only if there is a
diamond mine and families are not greedy enough to be disloyal to the islands other family-
inhabitants. Though the theme of loyalty permeates at least in a couple parts -the one I just
mentioned and Sherman not obliging to persistent request to tell what happened to his voyage
prior to his official interview in the explorers association where he is a member of good standing -
of the story, overall, it is the dream of doing something totally new, e.g, drastic career shift?, at the
latter part of ones life that I consider my take-away from this wonderful book.
30 likes
9 comments

Katrina
I purchased this book today! Found it at the bottom of a box in a barn. It was a yard sale. Perfect
shape, and I think its the first edition! I cannot
I purchased this book today! Found it at the bottom of a box in a barn. It was a yard sale. Perfect
shape, and I think its the first edition! I cannot wait to start reading it tonight!

Mar 08, 2015 09:25AM

Miriam
Wow, you are hard working, K.D.! Are you still in the same employment? I hope you manage to fit
a little adventure in at some time.

Nov 24, 2016 08:40PM