This is one of my favorite books of all time. It captures the spirit of New York while showcasing numerous works of art from the Metropolitan Museum in the city. Juxtaposed together, children will love the fun drawings and adults will appreciate the cleverness contained in each page. I have bought this book as gifts for friends, and also bought two copies for myself. One sits proudly on my shelf, and I have matted and framed some of my favorite pages from the other copy to hang on my wall. If you love New York, art, and/or wonderful children's books you must discover this book for yourself.

Wordless picture books have always held an honored place in the hearts (and lesson plans) of all teachers who promote a love of reading. YOU CAN'T TAKE A BALLOON INTO THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM takes that tradition to new heights with its exquisite detail, subtle parallel events, humor and excitement. It has all the elements of story: setting, lively characterization, the conflict and the chase...not to mention a most satisfying ending! But beyond all these delights, teachers of children of all ages will be drawn to this book for its potential to lead young minds on a quest for further information in many areas: art, art history, cultural tradition. It will find its place in creative writing lessons and in lessons about cultural history. And it will inevitably fix the images of a great museum in the minds of "readers," many of whom will find their way to The Met to discover these visual treasures in "real life." --Ann P. Kaganoff, PhD, Certified Educational Therapist; President, Association of Educational Therapists

Once in a long while a book comes along that is so simple yet so complex and innovative that it can be enjoyed time and again by both children and adults and is destined to become a classic. This is one of those books.

Having myself been taken at a very young age by my father to the Metropolitan Museum, this book has awoken within me wonderful memories that have instilled me with a love of museums (and especially of the Met). Although my children have not had the experience of seeing the Metropolitan as we live outside the U.S., this book has afforded me the opportunity to describe the museum to them and relive my experiences with them and at the same time take a rollicking educational ride through this romp.

I can actually feel the joy these two sisters must have had in working on this project. It is a work that comes from the heart and kudos to their collaboration of story and artwork that raises the story above the mundane.

Grandma is taking a little girl and her brother to the National Gallery of Art. As they walk in, the little girl hands her balloon to a nice photographer to hold for her, since balloons are not allowed inside. But as the three begin their tour of the gallery, the balloon comes loose and sails away..... You Can't Take a Balloon Into the National Gallery is a creative and inventive picture book that will entrance and mesmerize youngsters of all ages with its busy, expressive artwork, great attention to detail and famous Americans hidden in the pictures. The Preiss sister's marvelous and clever pen and ink illustrations, with bright color used only to highlight the chaos of the balloon's trip, parallels the tour inside the gallery, as life imitates art and art imitates life. This book includes a wonderfully detailed map of the balloon's route through D.C. and an answer key full of fun facts and historical notes for their hidden faces, at the end. It's impossible to open this book without finding something new and exciting that you've never seen before. For hours of fun, You Can't Take a Balloon Into the National Gallery is an adventure that will delight and amuse everyone in the family.

As I have just written in my 5-star review of "You Can't Take a Balloon to The Metropolitan Museum,": The really good news is that the Preiss sisters HAVE written another book and are working on a third. The second in this series, You Can't Take a Balloon to The National Gallery, is also fabulous. In fact, it is so good that, up until 2 weeks ago, my 3 year old would point out about twice a week that we had not been to the "Natural Gallery" when I asked her what we should do that day.

The only thing that changed since then is that I took her and her 1 year old sister to Washington last week, using the book as a guide book. If you think you like these books now, try using them as a template for a trip with your children! WOW!!!!!! What a wonderful way to get them ready for a trip and what a wonderful thing to carry the book with you, comparing what you are seeing to what you have read!!!! How great to go back to the hotel and see what you have seen and are going to see!!!! How great to get home and have an instant scrap book!!!!

With this experience behind us, we also can't wait until next Spring when You Can't Take a Balloon to The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is scheduled to come out!

A profound success on many fronts. I'm totally taken by its creativity, cleverness, and messages. This book has adventure, drama, historical details -- I love the "Faces from History" part (plus the learning within them), as offered ever so playfully! At the same time, "You Can't Take A Balloon..." is warm and filled with great joy. If all learning was presented so refreshingly, we'd have a different world!

"You Can't Take a Balloon into the Museum of Fine Arts" is the problem that confronts a young girl who is visiting the Boston museum with her brother and grandparents in this charming children's book from author Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and artist Robin Preiss Glasser. So grandma volunteers to wait outside, with the balloon (which is green), while the others tour the museum. However, before the trio even gets inside, the balloon comes undone from grandma's wrist and sails away. However, grandma is not about to let the day be ruined and sets off in hot pursuit of the balloon, helped by a nice young man on a motorbike. While grandpa and the children tour the Museum of Fine Arts, grandma chases the balloon across Boston. In doing so, we get to see pretty much every major site in Boston, from Trinity Church and the Boston Common to Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, and Fenway Park (the balloon manages to follow most of the Freedom Trail, but turns away from the U.S.S. Constituion and Bunker Hill Monument).

However, there is more fun to be had in this book. Scattered throughout the scenes are 33 past and present legends of Boston. My cocked hat is off to the person who can spot even half of the faces from history and today that artist Robin P. Glasser has put into these scenes of places around Boston. Larry Bird and Bill Russell I recognized (but I missed "Red" Auerbach), and I figured that was Paul Revere in front of the Paul Revere House, but I never would have known that was Michael Dukakis eating lunch at Durgin Park. Meanwhile, back at the Museum of Fine Arts, we see photographic reproductions of some of the famous painting to be found within, such as Rembrandt's "Artist in His Studio," Edward Hopper's "Drugstore," and John Singleton Copley's "Watson and the Shark" and "Paul Revere."

I saw most, but not all, of these sites on a trip through Boston last year so it was fun to be reminded of what I had seen and see some glimpses of what I had missed. I was not surprised to learn that Weitzman and Glasser had collaborated on a previous effort, "You Can't Take a Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum" as well as the more recent "You Can't Take a Balloon Into The National Gallery." But this book is a green balloon and Boston and those books have a yellow balloon in New York City and an orange balloon in Washington, D.C., which are both completely different. I am not sure if readers who live outside of these three American metropolises could possible enjoy these books as much as natives. But certainly if you live in Boston this is a book that will remind you of the rich history and culture of Beantown. You can also think of it is a tour guide for kids.

The Preiss sisters are back and taking Boston by storm, or should I say balloon. As in their previous books, You Can't Take A Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum and You Can't Take A Balloon Into The National Gallery, a little balloon carrying girl and her brother visit the Museum of Fine Arts with Grandma and Grandpa. Everyone knows you can't take a balloon inside, so Grandma does the honors and waits outside on the steps, holding the treasured balloon, while the others go in and take their tour. In no time, the balloon escapes, and the fun begins. As life imitates the famous artwork the little girl is observing inside, Grandma chases the balloon all over the city from the Boston Library, Trinity Church, Chinatown, and the Boston Harbor, to Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, Fenway Park, and many other famous landmarks along the way. This hilarious, joyous, manic romp, will mesmerize youngsters with it's exuberant and engaging pen and ink illustrations, with just a little color used here and there to highlight the action, and includes thirty-three hidden famous Bostonians, sprinkled throughout the comic book-like pages, to find and learn more about. Part art book, history lesson and travel brochure, this is a creative and inventive tour of one of America's great cities, and includes a map of the balloon's route, an informative list of artwork seen in the museum, and biographical sketches of the hidden "faces from history." Perfect for kids of all ages, You Can't Take A Balloon Into The Museum Of Fine Arts is a wonderful addition to an already terrific series, and guarantees hours of clever and imaginative, page-turning fun.

Building on the enormous popularity of "You Can't Take A Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum" and "You Can't Take A Balloon Into The National Gallery" Weitzman and Glasser now offer a fun, colorful peek at the Museum of Fine Arts while presenting an affirming grandparent/grandchild relationship.

Each full-color page bursts with vibrant energy as a little girl's balloon (not allowed inside the Museum) escapes her grandmother's grasp and soars away. Off we go, following the green orb through the streets of Boston. This chase is matched with the works of art the little girl is viewing.

There's a bit of history here, a bit of whimsy, and a lot of entertainment...