October 19, 2009
Take a tour of Boston with the Balloonies!
My daughter loves balloons. She points them out where ever she sees them and gives me those begging eyes whenever she sees someone handing them out.
I always felt there was something a little magical about balloons. They way they float. How some of them can be twisted into shapes of animals and objects. And how they can bring smiles to the faces of those receiving them.
I think that is why my daughter was so excited when we received The Boston Balloonies.
The Boston Balloonies is an amazingly creative and cute book written by Ed Shankman and illustrated by Dave O'Neill. In the book a group of balloons take you on whirlwind adventure through Boston, in true Balloonie fashion!
I love that this book, and the Balloonies, give you a personal tour of the great sites in Boston. The Shankman and O'Neill team also gives you tours of Maine and Cape Cod in I Met a Moose in Maine One Day and The Cods of Cape Cod!
So, what sets these books apart from all of the other children's books out there? The stories themselves are so clever. They are personalized to local areas that many of us have visited ourselves and the stories are told in a rhyming fashion that are catchy and fun to read. They reminded me of how a Dr. Seuss book reads. The illustrations themselves are cute, fun, colorful, and draw you in!!!
The Shankman and O'Neill books have quickly become favorites in our house. I love reading them and my daughter loves hearing them.
All three books are available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Commonwealth Editions (click here for details) and are must-haves for your child's library!!! And once your child falls in love with The Boston Balloonies have them create their own version of the Balloonies and submit their art to Shankman and O'Neill online!
You can learn more about these wonderful books and what you can expect next from Shankman and O'Neill by visiting these sites:
- Shankman and O'Neill Website: www.shankmanoneill.com
- Shankman and O'Neill Facebook Page
- Illustration Blog: http://oneildave.blogspot.com
- Shankman and O'Neill on Twitter
Shankman and O'Neill are generously giving away a SIGNED copy of The Boston Balloonies here at 5 Minutes for Giveaways! That's right…you're not only getting a great book but it will be SIGNED!!!
To enter, just leave a comment here by Friday, November 6th. One winner (US addresses only) will be announced Saturday, November 7.
And don't forget to check-out our reviews of I Met a Moose in Maine One Day and The Cods of Cape Cod where you can enter to win signed copies of each of those books as well!!!
As always, you can earn even more entries: subscribe to our Feed, sign up for our 5M4M Newsletter, add our 5M4Giveaways button in your sidebar, write a post and link back to this contest on your blog, and spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, or email! Please see our site's Terms and Conditions of Use for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.
Written by 5 Minutes for Mom Contributing Editor: Stacey Lynn
Filed under Books, Gift Ideas, Giveaway, Kids Stuff, Product Review, Shopping by Stacey
203 Comments on Take a tour of Boston with the Balloonies! »
#1 - Krista @ 12:23 am
These look like so much fun… especially since we'd be learning about a place we hope to visit some day!
#2 - Krista @ 12:24 am
I'm a subscriber
#3 - Krista @ 12:24 am
I get the email!
#4 - Krista @ 12:25 am
I have the button on my blog!
#5 - Mandy N @ 3:44 am
That sounds great, sign me up!!
#6 - Mandy N @ 3:45 am
I have your button on my blog
#7 - Amanda R. @ 7:39 am
We love new books around our house, and this one looks like a keeper! Thanks!
#8 - Amanda R. @ 7:40 am
I'm signed up for your newsletter!
#9 - Peggy Gorman @ 7:45 am
Adorable!
Thanks
#10 - Peggy Gorman @ 7:46 am
subscriber
#11 - Peggy Gorman @ 7:46 am
signed up for our 5M4M Newsletter
#12 - Peggy Gorman @ 7:46 am
Added 5M4Giveaways button
#13 - Mama Zen @ 8:16 am
What a fun book!
#14 - Mama Zen @ 8:16 am
I subscribe to the newsletter.
#15 - trish @ 9:00 am
looks like a great one. Thank you
trishbazin@yahoo.com
#16 - Stephanie @ 9:15 am
This sounds like a great book for my little guy!
#17 - Lisa @ 9:59 am
Oooh, fun!
#18 - Cecily @ 11:42 am
What a great little book!!
#19 - Steph @ 2:28 pm
Looks like a cute book. My daughter is a balloon nut so should would love it.
#20 - Michael Capp @ 3:03 pm
I'd love to win!
#21 - Ann F @ 3:42 pm
I'd like to win this for my daughter
#22 - The Gang's Momma @ 4:38 pm
These sound like so much fun! They'd be great for my new reader to read to my toddler who loves balloons. A win-win for all of us!
#23 - The Gang's Momma @ 4:38 pm
I get the newsletter
#24 - The Gang's Momma @ 4:38 pm
I have you on my Google Reader
#25 - The Gang's Momma @ 4:38 pm
I have your button on my sidebar
#26 - Renee C @ 6:33 pm
These books would be perfect for my kids! My husband was born in Cape Cod and my mother-in-law is from Maine.
#27 - Nad @ 7:47 pm
This looks like a really cute book!
#28 - Nad @ 7:47 pm
Suscriber.
#29 - Nad @ 7:48 pm
I receive the 5M4M newsletter.
#30 - andrea v @ 7:51 pm
This is great, my kids would love it.
#31 - andrea v @ 7:51 pm
email subscriber
#32 - Melissa @Mel4Him @ 7:54 pm
We love books. Nice giveaway.
#33 - Melissa @Mel4Him @ 7:54 pm
I'm a feed subscriber.
#34 - Melissa @Mel4Him @ 7:54 pm
I'm a newsletter subscriber.
#35 - Melissa @Mel4Him @ 7:55 pm
giveaway button is on my sidebar.
#36 - Lisa B. @ 8:14 pm
This book looks great!
#37 - Lisa B. @ 8:14 pm
I subscribe to your feed via Google Reader.
#38 - Lisa B. @ 8:14 pm
I subscribe to the 5M4M newsletter.
#39 - Lisa B. @ 8:15 pm
I have the Giveaway button on my blog.
#40 - Linda Kish @ 8:37 pm
I'd love to have this book
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
#41 - Linda Kish @ 8:38 pm
subscriber
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
#42 - Benita G. @ 9:02 pm
These look like lots of fun. Thanks for the chance.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
#43 - Benita G. @ 9:03 pm
I subscribe to your feed via email.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
#44 - Benita G. @ 9:03 pm
I subscribe to your newsletter.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
#45 - Cindy B. in Montana @ 9:05 pm
What a great way to interest kids in learning about other places!
#46 - Cindy B. in Montana @ 9:06 pm
feed subscriber
#47 - Cindy B. in Montana @ 9:06 pm
newsletter subscriber
#48 - Cindy B. in Montana @ 9:07 pm
button on left sidebar of my blog
#49 - Cindy B. in Montana @ 9:09 pm
I tweeted.
http://twitter.com/sendtocindy/status/5007682924
#50 - Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker @ 9:14 pm
Looks great. Thanks for offering!
#51 - Marj M. @ 9:21 pm
Wonderful. We all get to "visit" places that we may not actually go to.
#52 - Marj M. @ 9:21 pm
I'm an email subscriber.
#53 - Becky M @ 9:25 pm
I would love to win this for my son!
#54 - Becky M @ 9:25 pm
email subscriber
#55 - Staci A @ 10:30 pm
I love the illustrations! It looks like an amazing book!
#56 - Staci A @ 10:31 pm
I subscribe to your feed.
#57 - Staci A @ 10:31 pm
And I get your newsletter. Thanks!
#58 - Jessica T @ 11:19 pm
Cool! I just "doled out" a few balloons for my kids to play with today!
#59 - Jessica T @ 11:19 pm
Newsletter subscriber
#60 - Jessica T @ 11:19 pm
Feed subscriber
#61 - Thao @ 11:44 pm
These are very cute stories.
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
#62 - Thao @ 11:44 pm
Your button is located here
wondertwinadventures.blogspot.com/
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
#63 - Thao @ 11:45 pm
I subscribe via email.
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
#64 - Thao @ 11:46 pm
http://twitter.com/twinpowells/status/5011300608
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
#65 - GAhome2mom @ 6:59 am
We'd like to read this one too.
Thanks,
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dt/com
#66 - GAhome2mom @ 7:01 am
email subscriber
Thanks,
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dt/com
#67 - GAhome2mom @ 7:01 am
button ABC listed
Thanks,
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dt/com
#68 - stampedwithgrace @ 8:30 am
this looks like a fun book!
#69 - stampedwithgrace @ 8:30 am
subscriber
#70 - stampedwithgrace @ 8:31 am
I get your newsletter!
#71 - stampedwithgrace @ 8:32 am
your button's on my blog
#72 - Carol M @ 10:42 am
This book sound like a fun. I'm sure my grandsons would enjoy it.
mittens0831 at aol dot com
#73 - Carol M @ 10:43 am
I subscribe by email.
mittens0831 at aol dot com
#74 - Carol M @ 10:43 am
I subscribe to your feed.
mittens0831 at aol dot com
#75 - aimee @ 11:14 am
These look cute. I'd love to win!
#76 - aimee @ 11:14 am
I subscribe to your feed
#77 - aimee @ 11:14 am
I subscribe to the newsletter
#78 - judy brittle @ 12:13 pm
I would love tjis book for my granddaughter. It looks great! Thank you!
#79 - judy brittle @ 12:14 pm
I'm subscribed to your feed.
#80 - judy brittle @ 12:14 pm
I'm subscribed to your newsletter.
#81 - judy brittle @ 12:15 pm
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/5022937686
#82 - Laura C @ 1:40 pm
This would make a great story I can read to my
grandchild.
#83 - Rhonda Brand @ 1:45 pm
Books. We love books, and we LOVE balloons.
#84 - Blessed @ 8:34 pm
I love books like this and my little one loves balloons too!
#85 - Heather H. @ 11:47 pm
I would love to win this for my niece…
jswandrn @ gmail.com
#86 - 5 Minutes for Books: I Met a Moose in Maine One Day @ 11:58 pm
[...] in to each page of the book. You can read our reviews of Boston Balloonies and The Cods of Cape Cod here and [...]
#87 - Laura C @ 8:15 am
email subscriber
#88 - T with Honey @ 8:21 am
I think I know what I'm getting my Boston area native friend for her next birthday. Sure, she's in her 30s but she would LOVE this book!
#89 - Rebecca @ 2:20 pm
Cute!
#90 - Rebecca @ 2:20 pm
I get the newsletter.
#91 - Marcie @ 2:26 pm
What little kid wouldn't love these?
#92 - Marcie @ 2:26 pm
Mine would!!! I'm a subscriber
#93 - Stacy @ 7:16 pm
My daughter loves books. This one looks great!
#94 - Stacy @ 7:16 pm
I have your button on my blog.
#95 - Shanda @ 10:10 pm
How fun! We took our daughter to Boston this year.
#96 - Kristine @ 8:47 am
Wow, I'd never heard of these books. I grew up in the Boston area but have since moved South. Since we don't make it up there very often anymore, I would love one of these books to show my 4 year daughter all the places around Boston that I grew up seeing.
#97 - Kristine @ 9:00 am
I subscribe via RSS feed
#98 - Chrissy @ 9:27 am
We love new books! My 3 yr old is an avid "reader" already!
#99 - Chrissy @ 9:30 am
I subscribe to the feed.
#100 - Sarah Osborne @ 6:19 pm
Too cute! I've heard that Shankman and O'neill books are very well liked.
#101 - Sarah Osborne @ 6:20 pm
I blogged!
http://myfavoritegiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/10/boston-balloonies-childrens-book.html
#102 - Sarah Osborne @ 6:20 pm
I subscribe to your feed!
#103 - Sarah Osborne @ 6:20 pm
I receive your newsletter!
#104 - Sarah Osborne @ 6:21 pm
I have your button!
myfavoritegiveaways.blogspot.com
#105 - Erin Lowmaster @ 8:01 pm
What a fantastic book!
#106 - Laura C @ 1:33 pm
I subscribe to the feed.
pcollins@viscom.net
#107 - michele anne @ 1:33 pm
sign me up….sounds good
#108 - Cyndee @ 8:08 pm
I would like to have these books for my great
lil neighbor girls that have helped take care of my dogs all summer…while i dealt with medical issures
#109 - Carolyn @ 7:10 pm
I'd love to win. I'm a native Bostonian and I'm bringing my children back next summer for their first visits.
#110 - Bethie @ 10:37 pm
Please count me in. Thanks for the chance.
#111 - Susan @ 11:35 pm
The Boston Balloonies is so cute! Our 5 year old grand-daughter is just starting to read and I think she would really enjoy this.
I can just hear her Grandpa reading this to her and her 2 year old brother with his Boston accent!!!
#112 - Rosey @ 1:03 pm
What a cute concept for a book!
#113 - Linda M. @ 1:42 pm
Storytime is a tradition I've loved to share with my children & now it's even more fun with my grandchildren! I sure would love to add this to our collection.
#114 - Linda M. @ 1:43 pm
I'm happy to subscribe to your feed via my Yahoo homepage
#115 - Linda M. @ 1:43 pm
I'm happy to subscibe to your newsletter via my yahoo address
#116 - Honey Mommy @ 5:15 pm
This book looks so cute!
#117 - Idaho Jill @ 5:17 pm
My daughter loves balloons; this looks great, thanks!
#118 - Idaho Jill @ 5:18 pm
email subscriber, thanks!
#119 - Idaho Jill @ 5:19 pm
your button is on my sidebar, thanks
#120 - Idaho Jill @ 5:19 pm
I get your newsletter, thanks
#121 - 5 Minutes for Books: Day is Done book and CD @ 11:01 pm
[...] The Cods of Cape Cod I Met a Moose in Maine One Day The Boston Balloonies [...]
#122 - Deb @ 11:30 pm
Would be a great addition to our "library" for our daughter!
#123 - Amanda Starr @ 12:36 pm
Great giveaway, would love to win
#124 - Amanda Starr @ 12:37 pm
Subscribe to feed
#125 - Amanda Starr @ 12:37 pm
Subscribe to newsletter
#126 - C @ 2:30 pm
We don't want this one, yet it's a good place to remind others that natural rubber latex allergy is dangerous and please be careful of others who have this life-threatening allergy.
#127 - Rebecca @ 3:58 pm
cute book!!!
#128 - marina @ 5:27 pm
I think Dottie would enjoy this book
#129 - marina @ 5:28 pm
I follow you
#130 - kristen@nst @ 4:31 am
my daughter loves balloons right now, too! She'd love this.
#131 - HSB Suzanne (aka Anita) @ 10:00 am
Kids' books are the best!!!
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
#132 - mandy @ 1:20 pm
COunt us in! We'd love this
#133 - Tracey @ 2:11 pm
What a fun book!
#134 - Cheryl Lund @ 3:30 pm
I would love to read this to my niece and nephew.
#135 - Francine Anchondo @ 7:16 pm
Thanks for the giveaway.
#136 - Francine Anchondo @ 7:17 pm
I am subscribed via reader.
#137 - Shannon @ 7:59 am
So cute! Thanks!
#138 - Julie L @ 10:54 am
Another book my niece would like
#139 - Julie L @ 10:55 am
email subscriber
#140 - Julie L @ 10:55 am
susbscribed to your newsletter 5M4M
#141 - angie @ 2:25 pm
This looks like an adorable book.
#142 - Jenn S. @ 10:51 am
Sounds like a lot of fun.
#143 - Lori Walker @ 11:44 am
thanks for the giveaway
#144 - Wendy @ 1:07 pm
Would love to win this for my son.
#145 - Stephanie @ 12:45 am
I would love to win this new book!
#146 - Stephanie @ 12:45 am
I just signed up for your e-mail!
#147 - Susan C @ 10:52 am
I love balloons too-they never fail to cheer me up!
smchester at gmail dot com
#148 - Erica G @ 8:56 pm
I would love to win!
#149 - mindy @ 4:31 pm
very nice thanks
#150 - Tara Braun @ 10:29 pm
What a neat book.
#151 - Carol G @ 10:18 am
It looks like a fun book to read to and with my grandson.
#152 - alejandro aguilar @ 4:41 pm
i want to win this great
#153 - Hayley @ 7:13 pm
My son would love these books!!!
#154 - Winning Readings @ 9:49 am
I'd love this book for my daughter!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
#155 - Winning Readings @ 9:49 am
I subscribe to your feed…
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
#156 - Winning Readings @ 9:49 am
We posted about this at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/boston-balloonies.html
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
#157 - Megan Martinez @ 10:50 am
I would love to have these to read to my little girl.
#158 - Darcie K @ 12:51 pm
How cute!!!
dmkayes@gmail.com
#159 - Erma @ 7:23 am
My kids would love this.
#160 - Patty Chase @ 11:08 am
Looks like a wonderful givaway
#161 - Andria @ 1:09 pm
I would love a chance to win. Thank you.
#162 - Patti Bright @ 1:10 pm
My kids would love this
plb8156@aol.com
#163 - Lance Pearson @ 2:28 pm
i'd love to win
dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
#164 - Lance Pearson @ 2:28 pm
email subscriber
dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
#165 - Lance Pearson @ 2:29 pm
i follow with google reader
dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
#166 - ElV @ 5:12 pm
I think the kids would love this especially as it about their home town.
#167 - Ed Nemmers @ 5:42 pm
Happy Autumn!
#168 - Chrysa @ 1:18 am
This is so cute! Thanks for the giveaway!
#169 - Chrysa @ 1:20 am
I'm subscribed to your RSS feed.
#170 - Tara Hill @ 1:56 am
So cute! Thanks!
#171 - Tara Hill @ 1:56 am
I subscribe via email
#172 - Tara Hill @ 1:56 am
I subscribe to your feed
#173 - Gloria @ 7:24 am
Looks like a fun book!
#174 - Gloria @ 7:24 am
subscribe to feed via google reader
#175 - Gloria @ 7:24 am
subscribe to email
#176 - Gloria @ 7:25 am
http://kngmckellar-glorias.blogspot.com/
button
#177 - Gloria @ 7:26 am
http://twitter.com/kngmckellar/status/5477141194
tweeted
#178 - Candie L @ 7:51 am
This would make a great gift for my nephew. Thank you
#179 - susan smoaks @ 8:52 am
our daughter would love this!
#180 - susan smoaks @ 8:53 am
newsletter subscriber
#181 - susan smoaks @ 8:53 am
rss feed subscriber
#182 - Jennifer Jozwiak @ 10:16 am
this would be a great book for my little one!
#183 - Susan Smith @ 10:33 am
Looks like a good book
#184 - Kelly Grant @ 10:49 am
My 8 yr old would ove reading this to my 7 month old!
#185 - Julie @ 2:20 pm
We JUST moved from the living 36 years in the Boston suburbs to Southern GA, this book would be a hoot for my children.
#186 - Julie @ 2:20 pm
I recieve your newsletter
#187 - Julie @ 2:20 pm
I also subscribe to your feed
#188 - Miranda Allen @ 2:26 pm
My kids Love Balloons Also!
#189 - Angela Winesburg @ 2:59 pm
I would love to win this, thanks for the chance!
#190 - corrie @ 3:06 pm
love your site here
#191 - Melissa Nunley @ 3:16 pm
Great giveaway!
#192 - DanV @ 4:34 pm
This looks great
#193 - Gabriel J. @ 6:12 pm
Please, enter me, great prize!!! I would love to win this.
#194 - Gabriel J. @ 6:13 pm
I subscribe.
#195 - Marcy Strahan @ 6:32 pm
Oh! I know the kids would love this!
Sounds so very cute!
#196 - Marcy Strahan @ 6:33 pm
I subscribe to newsletter!
#197 - Marcy Strahan @ 6:33 pm
I subscribe to feed!
#198 - Marcy Strahan @ 6:35 pm
Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/ZESTYWONDERLAND/status/5492410189
#199 - Courtney Wallace @ 7:38 pm
This sounds like a great book. I think my daughter would really enjoy it.
#200 - Gianna @ 9:17 pm
Please enter me
#201 - Lily Kwan @ 9:36 pm
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
#202 - Lily Kwan @ 9:37 pm
I subscribed to your feed.
#203 - Lily Kwan @ 9:37 pm
I signed up for your newsletter.