The Big Balloon Race is a Level 3 I Can Read historical early reader for children, centered on Ariel, a young girl who longs to ride in her mother’s balloon during a race in 1882. Her mother, Carlotta the Great, is a skilled balloonist, but Ariel’s wish to join the flight leads her into a secret and risky adventure aboard the Lucky Star. The story combines accessible independent-reading language with historical fiction, transportation, courage, and family tension, giving young readers a concrete glimpse of ballooning in the late nineteenth century while raising questions about bravery, curiosity, and what it means to be considered “old enough” for a dangerous challenge.
Author: Eleanor Coerr
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication year: 1984
Number of pages: 64
Original language: English
Original title: The Big Balloon Race
Target age: 5–7