Mouton's Impossible Dream (by Anik McGrory)

Part of this book's charm is its surprise ending -- at the back of the book, a historical note reveals that MOUTON'S IMPOSSIBLE DREAM is based on the true story of the world's first "passengered" flight of 1783, in which a sheep, a duck, and a rooster flew in a hot-air balloon in Paris.

The author adds a delightful bit of imagination, emotion, and charm to the story and illustrations. Flights of fancy themselves, the illustrations are bright, colorful images that fill the pages. Perspectives vary from ground level to bird's-eye views, and just about everything in between -- including a delightful knee-high view of the king and queen from the animals' perspective and a dreamy representation of Mouton in flight that will make readers feel as if they're flying through the clouds right alongside her. Some illustrations include hand-lettered phrases in French.