Origin
It was because my daughter Leora’s balloon popped on a tree branch, that I became a children’s author. To console her, I made up a story about a magic tree that blossomed balloons. We liked it so much, I decided to write it down and see if I could get it published. Since I was an artist by trade, of course I drew pictures to go along with it. Fifteen years and a skid-zillion rejection slips later, (enough to wallpaper one wall of my studio,) a miracle happened. Scholastic Canada decided to take a chance on an untried author and published my first book, The Balloon Tree.
Fun Facts
My husband, Brian is the king. And yes, he does wear glasses.
My daughter, Melissa posed as Princess Leora when she was seven years old.
My older daughter, Leora (whose balloon started it all), appears on the second page wearing a blue dress.
Their cousin, Alexis appears on that same page wearing a green dress.
The evil Archduke is modeled after a person in a painting by Jan van Eyck. His name was Arnolfini.
Activities
Activity #1: Using colored paper, create a large tree. Written work is glued on to balloon shaped colored paper and tacked onto the tree. Suggestions:
- Write your own magic words.
- Favorite part of the story.
- If I had a magic tree...
- Pretend to be the Archduke in prison. Write a letter to the King or Princess Leora, complaining about conditions and asking for freedom.
Activity #2: Photocopy sheets of paper with synonyms and antonyms placed inside of balloons. Students draw strings to connect corresponding balloons.
Activity #3: Do a unit on the Middle Ages
Activity #4: Try writing calligraphy. (Stationary stores sell inexpensive felt calligraphy pens.)
Activity #5: Tack real balloons onto a fake tree. Add and subtract balloons. Sort by colour, shape, or size.
Activity #6: Students share the balloons. Does each wind up with an equal amount? Are there any leftover?
Activity #7: Estimate: how many balloons tall is a student? Check answer by having the student lie down to be measured.
Activity #8: Estimate with a string, the circumference of various balloons. How close was the estimate? What happens if air is let out of a balloon or added to one?
