Children's Book Express
The Man Who Walked Between The Towers
by Mordicai Gerstein
In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit threw a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent an hour walking, dancing, and performing high-wire tricks a quarter mile in the sky. This picture book captures the poetry and magic of the event with a poetry of its own: lyrical words and lovely paintings that present the detail, daring, and--in two dramatic foldout spreads-- the vertiginous drama of Petit's feat.
Summary
Review
Stacey King (Children's Literature)
This eloquently written and craftily illustrated book details for children the true story
of famed French aerialist Philippe Petit's 1974 tightrope walk between the two towers
of the World Trade Center in New York City. In the bulk of the book, Gerstein captures
the awe-striking beauty of the event with lyrical words and simple but dramatic
oil-and-pen illustrations. The somewhat awkward mention in the last two pages of the
events of September 11, 2001, though, may be a bit abrupt and may confuse children about the relationship between it and the tightrope feat. In those pages, however, Gerstein manages to both address the issue that could not very well be left out of a story about the twin towers and give children a glimpse of the shock and dismay that the world felt at their fall. 2003, Roaring Brook Press, $17.95. Ages 3 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Roaring Brook Press (Brookfield Conn.:), PUBLISHED: c2003.)
Movie Adaptation
Audiobook Excerpt
Book Trailer
Lesson Plan Ideas
This lesson plan includes reading comprehension questions, possible unknow vocabulary, and other cross- curricular activities. It also contains an online research activity.
Citations: Summary from Google Books, Review from CLCD, Lesson Plan from Teachingbooks.net,
Movie Adaptation- http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thewalk/
Audiobook Excerpt- http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=1531
Book Trailer- http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=1531