The 21 Balloons

The Twenty-One Balloons 

• Genre: Fiction; children’s literature; fantasy/adventure 
• Originally Published: 1947 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1070L; grades 4-7 
• Structure/Length: 10 chapters and introduction; approximately 180 pages; approximately 3 hours, 20 minutes on audio 
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Professor William Waterman Sherman intends to spend a year in a hot air balloon flying across the Pacific Ocean but instead lands on the fictional island of Krakatoa. The story unfolds with his discovery of a wealthy and inventively eccentric community living on the island, and the central conflict arises with a catastrophic volcanic eruption that threatens the islanders’ utopian life.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Stereotypes of Indigenous people; mild peril related to a volcanic eruption; themes of survival and adventure 

William Pène du Bois, Author 

• Bio: Born 1916; died 1993; American author and illustrator of children's books; celebrated for his inventive storytelling and distinctive illustrations; grew up in an artistic family and was influenced by his father’s work as an artist; served in World War II; contributed significantly to children’s literature with a unique blend of humor and fantasy 
• Other Works: The Flying Locomotive (1941); Bear Party (1951); The Giant (1954)
• Awards: John Newbery Medal (1948)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Balancing Risk and Planning
• Building Community
• Ingenuity as an Engine of Happiness