Product Description

An irresistible book for anyone who believes that dreams can come true.

The year is 1783. On a cozy French farm, there lives a sheep with an impossible dream: She wants to fly. Mouton's friend Canard the duck is sympathetic, but Cocorico the rooster insists that, without wings, Mouton will never take off. Still, Mouton is full of hope and determination-perhaps just enough to make her impossible dream come true.

Features an inventive heroine and a variety of fun-loving farm animals. Embraces the universal theme of following one's dreams and triumphing against all odds.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1407303 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
McGrory bases her spirited debut on the true story of the world's first free-flying balloon flight, masterminded in 1783 by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier near the palace of Versailles. Each day, Mouton, a sheep living on the Montgolfier farm, gazes longingly on the brothers' drawings of flying machines and declares, "Someday I'm going to fly." Then one day the farmers load their wagon with the drawings and materials to construct a flying balloon. They also pack the rooster, as one brother, in one of McGrory's clever handwritten asides, queries, "C'est mon d?ner?" The sheep and duck surreptitiously follow the wagon to Versailles and, after reaching the palace grounds, the animals hide in a large basket, which turns out to be the base of the flying balloon. The brothers decide to let the three creatures test the balloon ("If the animals can fly, we'll know it's safe!") and Mouton's "impossible dream" comes true. McGrory's watercolors make less of an impact than her text, in part because her palette often seems washed out. She incorporates period details and her animals frequently sport endearing expressions, but her compositions aren't always sufficiently filled in or framed to show off these strengths. On balance, however, the book offers a diverting mix of fact and fancy. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-When the Montgolfier brothers were experimenting with hot-air balloon flight in 1783, their first passengers were supposedly a sheep, a rooster, and a duck. If the animals survived, the men would know that the air in the sky was safe to breathe, and they could begin manned flights. McGrory has used this historical tidbit as the basis for her own flight of fancy. Mouton the sheep longs to fly, and spends hours examining the sketches the Montgolfiers leave in the barn. Canard, the duck, echoes her enthusiasm, but Cocorico, the rooster, is skeptical, insisting "sheep are not made to fly." The animals follow the brothers and their balloon to the palace of Versailles for its demonstration flight before Marie Antoinette. There, they are thrust into a basket and launched. The flight is successful, the animals are ecstatic, and the queen rewards them for their bravery. Unfortunately, the characterizations are flat, and as McGrory's focus is primarily on the passengers rather than on the unique brothers or the excitement surrounding this historically significant flight, the story remains grounded as well. The watercolor illustrations are pleasant but unexceptional. For a fun read about an animal and a hot-air balloon, stick with Mary Calhoun's Hot-Air Henry (Morrow, 1981).
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"McGrory's story and pictures could hardly be better." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 2000

Customer Reviews

excellent!
anik has created here a wonderful account of man's (and sheep's) fantasy with flight. her words both educate and entertain. but the illustrations are what steal the show for me. whimsical characters flow across the pages with grace. the painting technique and color use is also quite remarkable. i've seen the proofs for this book and the original art, and i anxiously await to own my own copy.

-jjk

Mouton's Impossible Dream by Anik McGrory
It seems impossible that "Mouton's Impossible Dream" is Anik McGrory's first children's book! It's wonderful! I love her story, based on an actual event in history, with French words and phrases accenting the action. The very idea that sheep - also - might aspire to fly caught my attention immediately (because we all want to fly)! Ms. McGrory's animal characters may be partially imagined but their imaginations parallel those of all people who continue to reach beyond the known. All children need to be encouraged to dream and do.

The artwork is just so delightful! It is fanciful but at the same time real. The flowing lines and vivid colors enhance the notion of flying and reach upwards, pulling the reader into the sky along with Mouton, Canard and Cocorico.

Were I growing up today, Mouton would replace my old childhood favorite, "The Little Engine That Could."

Altogether a huge success! Congratulations! I cannot wait for a sequel!

Wonderful fusion of fantacy, science and historical fact
This is a delightful book having warm illustrations and a story line merging fantasy (talking animals with soaring dreams)with an actual historical account. I hope this books helps to inspire my little girl to follow her dreams and an appreciation of science and history. To round out the experience and add some hands on fun, I suggest purchase of the 5 foot flying replica of the Montgolfier brothers balloon from the Exploratorium store on line.