Author: Mordical Gerstein
Title: The Man Who Walked Between The Towers
Illustrator: Mordical Gerstein
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Year: 2003
Genre: Caldecott
Format: Hardcover
Reading level: Early/transitional
Interest level: Early elementary
Topics: Overcoming fears
Summary: This book is based on a true story and is about a young man named Philippe Petit, a french street performer living in New York City who specializes in tight rope walking. He decides he wants to walk from one of the World Trade Centers to the other. He manages to sneak up to the top and attach a rope and cable. The pictures in this story book are incredible with the realistic feel I got by looking at them. I am afraid of heights and when I looked at the pictures in this book, I became afraid. This book had very good realistic pictures and awesome colors. The colors throughout this book were often bright giving off a cheery mood for the reader. This makes the reader feel like everything id going to be alright in the end, and it was. Philippe accomplishes getting across the rope to the other two towers. He is thrilled. This is a great book for young readers.
Extension Activity: Have the children share their fears with the class and describe ways in which they can overcome them. This would be an oral activity; no paper needed.
