The man who walked between the towers

Author/ Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein

Awards: Caldecott

Grade Level: K-3rd

Summary: Philippe Petit was a french aerialist who one day saw the twin towers being built and decided he needed to walk across them on his tight rope. This would have been the highest he has ever been but he wasn't scared because he needed to do this for himself. One night him and his friends snuck into the towers pretending they were construction workers. He was able to get there without anyone catching him and his friend from the other tower through the rope across using a bow and arrow. Philippe was able to perform tricks for an our using the support of his balancing stick. People saw him from below and the police were called and threaten to arrest him, when he was finished he gladly allowed the police to take him away. Luckily, his judge was impressed with what he did and instead of jail time said he must perform for children as community service.

Evaluation: This was a beautifully illustrated book and I was so shocked to realize that it was true! I would have this in my classroom and would read it to my students during 9/11 to bring light on a terrible event in our history. This book brings a very interesting angle to looking at the twin towers and shows students to conquer their fears.