THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gerstein, Mordicai. 2003. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9780312368784

PLOT SUMMARY
This is the true story of tightrope walker Phillipe Petit who walked between the World Trade Center Towers in 1974. Author Mordicai Gerstein writes a simple but adventurous story from eyewitness accounts.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Gerstein uses oil and ink to make simple drawings in muted hues. While the illustrations are pleasing to the eye, they compliment rather than overwhlem the story. As the tightrope walker begins balancing between the towers, the author/illustrator puts a close up of his ballet shoes on the narrow rope. A bonus to this book is the fold out page in the middle as if to make the reader aware of the vast space between the buildings.

The print on each page is small. While Gerstein wants the reader to know the story, his emphasis is on the illustrations. Reading through this book reminded me of a comic book format. The drawings are detailed, but not overly so. The illustrations at night are merely outlines of what we need to see; except for one close up detail of the twisted rope to be used in the illegal walk.

Readers would find the story compelling. Mr. Phillipe was trying something unusual and without permission. Why did the authorities want to keep him from walking on a tight rope between city buildings? Would he be successful in New York City?

PERSONAL OPINION
I was surprised that this book won the Caldecott Medal. This is the highest honor given to a children's illustrator and the artwork is not worthy of the medal in my opinion. I know that a 15 member panel chooses every year and this panel changes with each selection. Art is personal and I am sure there are those who appreciate it more than me! I would not share this book with young students ( age 7 and under) as they may not be aware of the terrorism with the World Trade Center. After reading this book a discussion would probably ensue about what happened to the World Trade Towers and why they are not pictured on the last page of this book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Gerstein's dramatic paintings include some perspectives bound to take any reader's breath away. Truly affecting is the book's final painting of the imagined imprint of the towers, now existing "in memory"-linked by Philippe and his high wire."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"The pacing of the narrative is as masterful as the placement and quality of the oil-and-ink paintings. The interplay of a single sentence or view with a sequence of thoughts or panels builds to a riveting climax."

AWARDS
2004 Caldecott Medal

CONNECTIONS

Students of all ages would say they could walk on a tightrope. To remind them how hard it is to do, let them try walking on a balance beam. Then take a jump rope and have them try to walk on that. Ask them to imagine stretching the jump rope between their school building and the building next to it. Most would admit that they wouldn't try it. Then as a class figure out how many feet up Mr. Phillipe was when he walked between the two towers.

Books like this one:

Students could choose any Caldecott Award book and be asked to explain the similarities and differences in the artwork.