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...
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Aug 02, 2011
Toby
rated it: 
I watched the Academy Award-winning documentary Man on Wire last night in preparation for re-reading Mordicai Gerstein's Caldecott Medal book, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. The event celebrated in the book, Philippe Petit's high wire walk between the towers of the World Trade Center, just seemed crazy to me, until I met Petit, up close and personal, in the film. He was a man with an impossible dream that he was ultimately able to achieve by the force of his own determination and
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5 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 20, 2010
Ch_jank-caporale
rated it:
What’s that? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Circus Man!
In 1973, Pierre Petit walked on a 5/8 inch cable strung between the two towers of the World Trade Center. To accomplish the feat took months, if not years of planning, plotting, and courage. It also required a willingness to break the law. A juggler and wire walker by profession, Petit had previously walked between towers and bridges throughout Europe but the twin towers, now vanished, was the pinnacle of his career.
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In 1973, Pierre Petit walked on a 5/8 inch cable strung between the two towers of the World Trade Center. To accomplish the feat took months, if not years of planning, plotting, and courage. It also required a willingness to break the law. A juggler and wire walker by profession, Petit had previously walked between towers and bridges throughout Europe but the twin towers, now vanished, was the pinnacle of his career.
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Dec 02, 2008
Lstirl
rated it: 
A lyrical and beautifully illustrated recounting of the true story of a 1974 French aerialist crossing between the twin towers on a tightrope.
Ages 4-10
The illustrations in this book are amazing. The use of perspective creates an almost dizzying effect. This is showcased in the two center pages that fold out to display the height of the tightrope walker. As for the story, it is exciting and suspenseful as we wait to see if Philipe will succeed at his great attempt to cross More...
Ages 4-10
The illustrations in this book are amazing. The use of perspective creates an almost dizzying effect. This is showcased in the two center pages that fold out to display the height of the tightrope walker. As for the story, it is exciting and suspenseful as we wait to see if Philipe will succeed at his great attempt to cross More...
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Nov 11, 2009
NS - Cami
rated it: 
Biographical audiobook; Nonfiction, Appropriate 4th grade & up. This is probably my favorite picture book ever. A true story with breath taking angles to show the height of Petit walking a wire a quarter mile in the air without a safety harness! With some of the pictures folding outward into larger posters, you really understand how high up he was, and how brave and crazy he must have been! How it challenges the young readers to dream! To dare! On this wire stretched between the Towers, he ran,
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Feb 22, 2009
Christy
rated it:
“Once there were two towers side by side.” This first sentence in The Man Who Walked between the Towers immediately elicits an emotional response for readers old enough to have witnessed the events of September 11, 2001. This brilliantly illustrated and written book relates a story about the World Trade Center towers that is uplifting, courageous and inspirational.
Mordicai Gerstein skillfully chronicles the adventure of Philippe Petit, a street performer, who walked on a tight rope betwe More...
Mordicai Gerstein skillfully chronicles the adventure of Philippe Petit, a street performer, who walked on a tight rope betwe More...
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Feb 23, 2009
Andrea
rated it:
I decided to read this book after I viewed Man on Wire. I had always come to this book with very little interest and appreciation, for reasons unknown. Sometimes we come onto books with a bias for no reason, and I already knew that was the case for me. The pictures nor the subject matter had ever appealed to me.
Now, I come to it with a fresh appreciation. I see the book as both a work of historical fiction and as a sort of honorarium to the greatest achievement of another artis More...
Now, I come to it with a fresh appreciation. I see the book as both a work of historical fiction and as a sort of honorarium to the greatest achievement of another artis More...
Jan 30, 2012
L12_matt
rated it:
Philippe Petit was passionate about entertaining people. His story is told in Mordicai Gertstein’s The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, a picture book. Petit loved to perform on a tightrope. In 1974 he decided to tightrope walk between the, under construction, twin towers of the World Trade Center. He enlisted the help of his friends to execute a crafty plan to string a cable and then walk one quarter of a mile above the ground. Philippe thrilled the onlookers below (while simultaneously
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Jan 28, 2012
L12aliciacarrera
rated it:
"Look! Someone walking on a wire between the towers!" This book is based on a true story of a French aerialist, Philippe Petit, who in 1974 walked between the twin towers on a tightrope in New York City. This book is inspiring! With a lot of determination and courage, Petit lived out his dream.
The dramatic and mischievous story is well written and beautifully illustrated. The foldout spreads and paintings give the illusion to the reader that they too are walking alongsi More...
The dramatic and mischievous story is well written and beautifully illustrated. The foldout spreads and paintings give the illusion to the reader that they too are walking alongsi More...
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Jan 04, 2012
Laura
rated it:
Picturebook telling of Philippe Petit’s tight-rope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in August 1974.
Uses poetic language and stylized illustrations to draw readers in to the story. Uses illustrations of various sizes, from small details to full-bleed fold-out spreads to convey the grand scale of Petit’s adventure. Although the artistic style did not appeal to me personally, the book is a Caldecott winner and therefore not of insignificant merit. The images defini More...
Uses poetic language and stylized illustrations to draw readers in to the story. Uses illustrations of various sizes, from small details to full-bleed fold-out spreads to convey the grand scale of Petit’s adventure. Although the artistic style did not appeal to me personally, the book is a Caldecott winner and therefore not of insignificant merit. The images defini More...
Dec 09, 2011
Sara
rated it:
1. Genre: Junior Book/Informational
2. Summary: Philippe Petit, a French street performer, loved entertaining people. He had such a love for entertainment, that he had no choice but to walk across a tightrope when seeing the two tallest towers standing side by side in New York City. This story introduces the reader to this exciting and adventurous man who made history of his own between the two most famous towers in the world.
3. Critique:
a. One of the greatest More...
2. Summary: Philippe Petit, a French street performer, loved entertaining people. He had such a love for entertainment, that he had no choice but to walk across a tightrope when seeing the two tallest towers standing side by side in New York City. This story introduces the reader to this exciting and adventurous man who made history of his own between the two most famous towers in the world.
3. Critique:
a. One of the greatest More...
Nov 14, 2011
Danielle
rated it:
Gerstein, Mordicai. The Man Who Walked Between The Towers. Roaring Brook Press: Brookfield, Connecticut 2003. 34 pp. ISBN 0-7613-1791-0.
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction.
Rating: ***: Although the towers of the World Trade Center are gone, the memory of them remains. In this beautifully illustrated book, we learn about an amazing event that occurred at the twin towers. The memories of the World Trade Center are often sad, but the story of Philippe Petit brings light to their hist More...
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction.
Rating: ***: Although the towers of the World Trade Center are gone, the memory of them remains. In this beautifully illustrated book, we learn about an amazing event that occurred at the twin towers. The memories of the World Trade Center are often sad, but the story of Philippe Petit brings light to their hist More...
Nov 14, 2011
Simon
rated it:
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers tells the extraordinary story of Philippe Petit, who walked on a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City early one morning in August 1974.
The book does a wonderful job of describing for young audiences what must be one of the most daring and reckless things that anyone has ever done.
We see Petit dreaming about the walk when the towers first appear, the preparations (where it almost all goes complet More...
The book does a wonderful job of describing for young audiences what must be one of the most daring and reckless things that anyone has ever done.
We see Petit dreaming about the walk when the towers first appear, the preparations (where it almost all goes complet More...
Sep 29, 2011
Becca
rated it:
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein, is an inspirational story depicting an incredible defeat one man accomplished on New York City’s Twin Towers. In 1974 Philippe Petit decided to pull an, until then, unimaginable act-he wanted to walk on a tight rope between the Twin Towers, 1340 feet high into the city’s sky. Philippe faced many hardships against his plan but was able to pull off the daring act and tight-walked his way into the history books,
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Sep 26, 2011
Sara
rated it:
1. Non-fiction, historical
2. The true story of Phillippe Petit, a street performer, during the construction of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. This daring French aerialist walked across a wire strung between the two, a quarter of a mile in the sky, and stayed there for almost an hour.
3. A. The history, message, and context of the story.
B. This is quite possibly the most perfect way to re-associate the two towers with something other t More...
2. The true story of Phillippe Petit, a street performer, during the construction of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. This daring French aerialist walked across a wire strung between the two, a quarter of a mile in the sky, and stayed there for almost an hour.
3. A. The history, message, and context of the story.
B. This is quite possibly the most perfect way to re-associate the two towers with something other t More...
Sep 26, 2011
Ashton
rated it:
Genre: Non-fiction, Historical
Summary: This book tells the true story of a street performer who loves to tightrope walk. One day he sees two tall towers that he wants to tightrope walk between. He sneaks up and completes his performance, while a crowd watches, thus, even today, his performance adds to the wonderful memory of these buildings that do not exist anymore.
Critique: A. The pictures in this story are very expressive and convey emotion in every illustration. The colors vary fr More...
Summary: This book tells the true story of a street performer who loves to tightrope walk. One day he sees two tall towers that he wants to tightrope walk between. He sneaks up and completes his performance, while a crowd watches, thus, even today, his performance adds to the wonderful memory of these buildings that do not exist anymore.
Critique: A. The pictures in this story are very expressive and convey emotion in every illustration. The colors vary fr More...
Sep 25, 2011
Lindsay
rated it:
Genre: Picture Book - Historical Fiction
Summary: This is book is about Philippe Petit and his daring act involving the World Trade Center Towers. Petit walked on a tightrope between the towers for over an hour! When he was satisfied he came off the wire and held out his wrists for the handcuffs. As punishment he had to perform in the park for children.
Critique: (a)This book finds its strength in the history surrounding the story. The history of the world trade center t More...
Summary: This is book is about Philippe Petit and his daring act involving the World Trade Center Towers. Petit walked on a tightrope between the towers for over an hour! When he was satisfied he came off the wire and held out his wrists for the handcuffs. As punishment he had to perform in the park for children.
Critique: (a)This book finds its strength in the history surrounding the story. The history of the world trade center t More...
Sep 09, 2011
Katlyn
rated it:
1. Genre : Historical/Contemporary Picture Book
2. Summary: As a reader, I feel honored and fortunate to recommend this book to other readers only a few days before 9/11. In this title, The Man Who Walked between the Towers, a French tightrope walker travels the ¼ mile between the two towers, preforming a rare and amazing stunt at the time.
3. Critique:
a. I am certain that now and in the future the uttermost value of this story is its history.
b. As the twin towers are not h More...
2. Summary: As a reader, I feel honored and fortunate to recommend this book to other readers only a few days before 9/11. In this title, The Man Who Walked between the Towers, a French tightrope walker travels the ¼ mile between the two towers, preforming a rare and amazing stunt at the time.
3. Critique:
a. I am certain that now and in the future the uttermost value of this story is its history.
b. As the twin towers are not h More...
Sep 08, 2011
Sophia
rated it:
On August 4, 1974, a man by the name of Philippe Petit, a street performer and high rise acrobat, faced his biggest challenge: walking between the Twin Towers on a 5/8" thick piece of cable. The story of how he met this challenge, how he gained access to the towers, his miraculous journey across the cable, and how he willingly accepted being arrested is all just awe inspiring.
The illustrations are beautiful as well. Told in panes, full page spreads, and a few fold out pages to g More...
The illustrations are beautiful as well. Told in panes, full page spreads, and a few fold out pages to g More...
Nov 16, 2010
Josh
rated it:
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers is the a true story about a man who walked between the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. It was the 2004 Caldecott award winner. The art is excellent, and conveys at least as much of the story as the words do. Although the man was arrested for tightrope walking between the two towers, he was sentenced to community service, for which he had to entertain kids in the park. It is the best children book that I know of that have deals with th
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Oct 05, 2010
N_amandascholz
rated it:
This picture book tells the story of Philippe's Petit's amazing tightrope walk between the Twin Towers in 1974. His accomplishment seems to belong in the realm of fiction, yet Petit dreamed that he would walk between the two buildings as he watched them rise over the New York City skyline. One wonderful aspect of this book is its presentation of Petit's dream without judgment or commentary because it sends a message to children that no dream is too absurd or too outlandish. I especially love som
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Sep 12, 2010
Carol Hurst:
Many children's book authors and illustrators grappled with how and if to commemorate the tragedies of 9/11. Mordicai Gerstein chose a beautiful way to do it. His Caldecott Award winner gives us adventure, suspense, delight and, of course, sadness as he tells the story of Philippe Petit, a tightrope acrobat who did indeed walk between the World Trade Towers in 1974.
We first see the towers on the title page, still under construction. The finished towers stand o More...
Many children's book authors and illustrators grappled with how and if to commemorate the tragedies of 9/11. Mordicai Gerstein chose a beautiful way to do it. His Caldecott Award winner gives us adventure, suspense, delight and, of course, sadness as he tells the story of Philippe Petit, a tightrope acrobat who did indeed walk between the World Trade Towers in 1974.
We first see the towers on the title page, still under construction. The finished towers stand o More...
Jan 10, 2010
Josiah
rated it: 
I would give two and a half stars to this book.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers is an evocative, surprisingly moving real story about the French aerialist who playfully defied American authorities to walk a high wire strung between the two World Trade Towers in New York City shortly after they were built, in 1974. The entire telling of the tale tends toward the light-hearted, while the illustrations do a tremendous job of conveying to readers the harrowing risks inherent in wh More...
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers is an evocative, surprisingly moving real story about the French aerialist who playfully defied American authorities to walk a high wire strung between the two World Trade Towers in New York City shortly after they were built, in 1974. The entire telling of the tale tends toward the light-hearted, while the illustrations do a tremendous job of conveying to readers the harrowing risks inherent in wh More...
Nov 11, 2009
NS Kelley
rated it:
I listened to this book on CD. This is the story of Pillipe Petit's tight rope walk between the New York City's World Trade Towers. The story took place in 1974. It serves not only as a story of hope and inspiration, but also as a memorial to the Twin Towers.
The illustrations to this story were what it so wonderful and engaging. They helped bring the story to life with the vibrant colors and interesting perspectives on each page.
This story can be used in so many ways. I More...
The illustrations to this story were what it so wonderful and engaging. They helped bring the story to life with the vibrant colors and interesting perspectives on each page.
This story can be used in so many ways. I More...
Nov 07, 2009
(NS) Lisa
rated it:
A young tight rope walker named Philippe Petit watched two towers being built in New York City. He wanted to dance on a wire between the two towers, but knew that the police and the people who owned the building would not allow him to do that. One day Philippe and a friend dress up as construction workers and sneak into the tower. They take cable and other equipment into the elevator, and up to the top ten unfinished floors. They wait until night, and then carry everything up one hundred and
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Oct 06, 2009
(NS) Brea M
rated it:
Mordicai Gerstein’s, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers is a 2004 Caldecott Medal Winner. Here's a joyful true story of the World Trade Center from a time of innocence before 9/11. In 1974 French trapeze artist Philippe Petit walked a tightrope suspended between the towers before they were completed. Gerstein's simple words and dramatic ink-and-oil paintings capture the exhilarating feats, the mischief, and the daring of the astonishing young acrobat. He knew his plan was illegal, so he dres
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Oct 02, 2009
Valerie
rated it:
Summary/Thoughtful Reflection:
This picture book, appropriate for all readers, tells the daring true story of Phillip Petit, a French man historically known for his daring tight-rope balancing acts between structural buildings (i.e. Notre Dame Cathedral). He came to New York City as a street preformer in the 1970's, juggling balls and torches, riding a unicycle and tight-rope walking between trees. Seeing the Twin Towers, he got the daring idea to attempt the challenging balancing act o More...
This picture book, appropriate for all readers, tells the daring true story of Phillip Petit, a French man historically known for his daring tight-rope balancing acts between structural buildings (i.e. Notre Dame Cathedral). He came to New York City as a street preformer in the 1970's, juggling balls and torches, riding a unicycle and tight-rope walking between trees. Seeing the Twin Towers, he got the daring idea to attempt the challenging balancing act o More...
4 comments
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Jun 15, 2009
Allison
rated it:
Son (age 6) says...
"I didn't know that the man walked on a rope that was so long, and I think it's pretty cool that he could walk across the two towers in New York City. I didn't know that it would take so long to put the rope across the two towers. I also learned he could lie down on the rope. I think it would be scary to do."
Mom says...
This book captures a daredevil but triumphant moment in the history of the World Trade Center towers and provides a lovely mem More...
"I didn't know that the man walked on a rope that was so long, and I think it's pretty cool that he could walk across the two towers in New York City. I didn't know that it would take so long to put the rope across the two towers. I also learned he could lie down on the rope. I think it would be scary to do."
Mom says...
This book captures a daredevil but triumphant moment in the history of the World Trade Center towers and provides a lovely mem More...
Nov 15, 2010
Jacqueline
rated it:
Title: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
Author: Mordicai Gerstein
Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein
Interest Level: Pre-K - 3
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.5
Lexile® measure: 480L
DRA: 28
Guided Reading: L
Book Type: Read-Aloud Book
Genre/Theme:
* Autobiography and Biography
Topics:
* Actors, Artists and Performers
* Circus
* City Life
* Determination and Perseverance
* Social Studies Through Literature
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Author: Mordicai Gerstein
Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein
Interest Level: Pre-K - 3
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.5
Lexile® measure: 480L
DRA: 28
Guided Reading: L
Book Type: Read-Aloud Book
Genre/Theme:
* Autobiography and Biography
Topics:
* Actors, Artists and Performers
* Circus
* City Life
* Determination and Perseverance
* Social Studies Through Literature
More...
Jan 30, 2010
L-Crystal
rated it:
This book is intended for children kindergarten through grade six. It has won several literary awards including Caldecott Medal (2004), Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Picture Book (2004), An ALA Notable Children's Book for All Ages (2004), Patricia Gallagher Picture Book Award Nominee (2007), and New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books (2003). This book is about the day in 1974 when Philippe Petit spent hours securing a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center. Afte
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Nov 12, 2009
NSAndrew
rated it:
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers.
What can I say? Just by reading the title and looking at the cover, I get somewhat emotional. I had seen this book before, but had never read it. Now reading it, I look at the text sorrowfully, knowing that the towers are no longer there. NPR even did an interview with Philippe Petit, the gentleman who actually walked the wire, on one of the tower anniversaries. I got to say this was tough for me to read, since I had an acquaintance or two that h More...
What can I say? Just by reading the title and looking at the cover, I get somewhat emotional. I had seen this book before, but had never read it. Now reading it, I look at the text sorrowfully, knowing that the towers are no longer there. NPR even did an interview with Philippe Petit, the gentleman who actually walked the wire, on one of the tower anniversaries. I got to say this was tough for me to read, since I had an acquaintance or two that h More...
