My children and I recently read The Twenty-One Balloons and we just loved this whimsical adventure tale! Alongside this imaginative, creative tale, we studied geography, hot air balloons, volcanoes, and more as we worked our way through this story.

This blog post includes everything you need to know about The Twenty-One Balloons Book Study and how you can cultivate rich learning through literature as you read this story in your home.

In this blog post: 

• The Twenty-One Balloons summary
• Themes in The Twenty-One Balloons
• The Twenty-One Balloons book study ideas and activities
• How we use Treehouse Book Studies in our homeschool
• Treehouse Book Studies community photos
• Read children’s literature with Treehouse Book Studies

The Twenty-One Balloons summary

The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois is a fantasy-adventure novel filled with inventions, travel, and undiscovered civilizations. When Professor William Waterman Sherman is spotted from a ship at sea, clutching a wooden raft floating in the Atlantic Ocean, the reader is thrust into the fantastical tale. The retired professor explains how his journey started with plans to ride a hot air balloon across the Pacific Ocean, but when his balloon crashes on an undiscovered volcanic island, he encounters a civilization with new government, cultures, styles, and more. The Twenty-One Balloons is the winner of the 1948 Newbery Medal and is beloved for Pène du Bois’ rich imagination, creativity, and more.

The Twenty-One Balloons Book Study is available now. This book is a perfect story for creative children who love imaginative, whimsical adventure stories.

Themes in The Twenty-One Balloons

There are so many opportunities for learning as you read The Twenty-One Balloons including history, science, geography, and more. Some of the themes in the story are: 

• World and US Geography
• Longitude and latitude
• Chester Arthur, the 21st President of the United States
• History of hot air balloons
• How balloons are made
• Landforms
• Anatomy of a volcano
• 1883 Volcanic Eruption of Krakatoa
• Minerals and diamonds
• Famous architecture
• Hurricanes
• Inventions
• Cultures and cuisines from around the world

The Twenty-One Balloons book study ideas and activities

We read The Twenty-One Balloons with the coordinating book study, including a four-week reading schedule, discussion questions, notebooking prompts, and activities.

The Twenty-One Balloons Book Study Guide includes fun activities for kids and homeschool groups like making balloon animals, modeling the fantasy island of Krakatoa with salt dough, making a restaurant menu with international food, and more.

We loved learning all about balloons, like the inventor of hot air balloons, why hot air balloons have sandbags, and how balloons are made. We loved learning about other topics like hurricanes, volcanos, and diamonds.

How we use Treehouse Book Studies in our homeschool

We read The Twenty-One Balloons with the companion Treehouse Book Study Guide which provides a reading schedule, discussion questions, activity ideas, and more. In my family, we read aloud together over lunch and use this as a jumping off point to explore literature together, along with themes in history and science. 

I love that we can use the reading plan and Treehouse Book Study Guide as a way to blend literature with other subjects my children are studying. I created it to be an organic way to read high-quality literature and explore new topics like geography, historical figures, vocabulary, and more in an organic way.

After finishing the book, we meet with a group of friends who have also read the book to celebrate finishing the novel, give presentations, eat snacks related to the story, and more. I love that we have a template to engage and share in learning with our friends and family. We benefit so much from collaborating and learning with one another!

Related: Summer of the Monkeys Book Study and The Sign of the Beaver Book Study

See a sample lesson plan from Treehouse Book Club here!

Treehouse Book Study community photos

It was so fun to see all of the fun and more ideas in the Treehouse Book Study Community. Here are some highlights from the group!

Related: 20 Read Aloud Books for Nature Lovers [Free Book List]

Read children’s literature with Treehouse Book Studies

Treehouse Book Studies were designed as a way for children to learn together through great literature. These are suitable for family read-alounds, homeschool co-ops, or children’s book clubs. 

Treehouse Book Studies are digital download book studies of classic children’s literature, available for both Primary and Intermediate Years. Use in your homeschool as literature curriculum or as book study with a small group. Create lasting connections through rich stories while you study themes such as science, nature, geography, history, and language arts. Each download includes: Book Study with weekly lesson plans, recipes, Book Report Template, Extension Book List, Multimedia Reference Materials links, and Book Club Meet-up Guide.

My Side of the Mountain Book Study

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George is an adventure story that begins when 12-year-old Sam Gribley decides to leave his family and their small, cramped New York City apartment to seek a quieter life and explore the world. Told from the first person through journal entries, notes, and drawings, Sam embarks on a journey in the Catskill Mountains, relying on his own survival skills to make it on his own. Along the way, Sam learns how to build fires, forage for food, and catch fish as he seeks independence in the woods. Prepared with only a few items like a pen knife, an ax, and the clothes on his back, Sam quickly learns that surviving in nature involves more than he has read about in books.

The Black Stallion Book Study

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley tells the story of a unique and enduring bond between a boy and a horse. Alec and the black stallion (referred to as the Black throughout the book) find themselves in grave danger early on, yet their perseverance leads them to a deep friendship that helps them overcome the odds.

The Black’s mysterious past brings uncertainty to their journey, but one thing is certain: the bond between Alec and the horse is unlike any other. Together, they form an unlikely team that ventures into the thrilling world of horse racing, where Alec finds himself once again facing unexpected challenges.

This book explores themes of persistence, determination, and the unbreakable connection between a boy and his horse.

The Secret Garden Book Study

When Mary Lennox, a spoiled and self-centered girl who has experienced little of real life, is sent to live with her uncle at Misselthwaite Manor, she is both friendless and thoughtless, content in her solitary ways. However, life begins to change for Mary as she meets a variety of colorful characters at the manor. With the help of a brick wall, a robin, and a mystery, Mary embarks on a quest to unlock the Secret Garden. The story’s charming characters will warm your heart (while others may prompt reflection on your own behavior).

The Secret Garden is a timeless tale of transformation, revealing what lies on the other side of our own limitations. With hope and a touch of magic, Mary—and readers—learn that the true magic of the Secret Garden lies in friendship, kindness, hope, and love. Featuring beautiful writing and rich garden imagery, The Secret Garden continues to captivate and inspire readers of all ages.