The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene Du Bois, published by The Viking Press, New York 1947 - First Edition. Original Dust Jacket.
The Twenty-One Balloons tells the story of a retired school teacher whose hot air balloon voyage leads him to discover Krakatoa, a tropical island rich with wealth and fantastical inventions. The events and ideas are based both on scientific facts and imagination, with descriptions accompanied by Du Bois' illustrations. The book was inspired by the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa volcano, one of the largest eruptions in recorded history. The eruption caused a giant ash cloud that blocked out the sun and caused global temperatures to drop. Upon release it was a great success, and by 1948 had won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature. This is one of the most popular children's books of all time, translated into over 20 languages, adapted as a film, TV series and play.
[10], 180 pages. Cardboard binding with the original dust jacket all complete. Small tear in the rear top of dust jacket. Very good condition.
