This book was published 2004 by Puffin Books .

Eleanor Coerr is the author of many books for young readers, including The Big Baloon Race, a Reading Rainbow book, Chang's Paper Pony, and The Josefina Story Quilt, a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. Carolyn Croll is the distinguished illustrator of many books for children, including the I Can Read Books The Big balloon race by Eleanor Coerr and Clara and the Bookwagon by Nancy Smiler Levinson. She lives in Philadelphia, PA. Eve Bunting has written over two hundred books for children, including the Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, The Wall, Fly Away Home, and Train to Somewhere. She lives in Southern California. Ronald Himler is the award-winning illustrator of more than 75 books for children. He lives in the desert outside of Tuscon, Arizona and can be visited online at ronhimler. com