Robert Wadlow: The Unique Life of the Boy Who Became the World's Tallest Man

by Jennifer Phillips

Imagine being the tallest person in the world. As a child.

You just keep growing and growing and growing...six feet...seven feet...eight feet up. The world is made in miniature and you must constantly endure. The crush of public attention is relentless. Some people are kind, some are mean. All are curious.

This may sound like a tale from long ago, but this is the inspirational true life story of young Robert Wadlow. The victim of an overactive pituitary gland, Robert lived from 1918 to 1940. He stood just shy of 9 feet tall by the time of his death at age 22.

Robert didn't choose his situation, but his accomplishment was in how he handled it.

Children's biography includes historical images.

This is the updated edition released in September 2019. The version with a blue cover is the older edition first released in 2010.

36 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Bonnie Rock Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for kids! It tells an interesting story of the world's tallest man and at the same time it teaches kids that it's ok to be different. The questions and exercises in the back of the book are great for teaching kids empathy. This is exactly the kind of book I'd see in the scholastic book club packets my kids bring home from school and based on their reactions, it would probably sell well.

I would have liked to have read more facts about Robert Wadlow's life, such as how did his parents modify the inside of their home to accomadate his size? Or how much he ate for a meal?

[Carriann Shultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read...

A well written account of Robert Wadlow's life. I would encourage the reading of it. Read it to your children , your school children and for yourself. The author includes thought provoking questions at the end of the book which provide for discussion with your students or your children to add more meaning to the story and understanding of Robert's challenges to a normal life. Phillips ,also , through her writing showed the understanding and caring the parents had for their son.
This is a refreshing, positive read.

[Zuzana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in the Goodreads giveaway. It's a great book for kids - it tells the story clearly and succinctly, has just the right number of pictures, and the suggested discussion questions and activities at the end of the book are excellent. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn a bit more about the world's tallest man, and as background material for any kids needing to think about people's differences and how to treat them.

[Barbara Waloven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for kids. The Questions to Explore in the back of the book is a great guide for discussions after the book is read.

[Suzann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has adapted Robert's story for children with a high level of skill. The discussion questions are age-appropriate and help children find true lessons in his life experience.

[Svetlana Kovalkova-McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of many things I loved about this book was that it possesses a rare quality that so many non-fiction biographies written for children lack. It teaches many valuable lessons about right and wrong in life without being in your face about it, just by telling Robert Wadlow’s life story. You find out that being the tallest person in the world was not exactly “Christmas every day,” alongside with cool facts how Robert’s mom recycled his old clothes for use by other family members. It talks about growing up while looking very different from everyone else and finding your place in the world, community and in the lives of the ones closest to you. The book is funny, sad, informative, full of great historical photos, extraordinarily well researched, entertaining, and after you are done with it, it lives you feeling that you learned something new about the world we live in.
At the end of the book there are a series of thoughtful questions and activities to explore that cover topics from history of Great depression and living in 1920s to science.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting about the tallest man in the world! Easy read and took me 10 minutes to read.
Could of had more info on his day to day getting around adventures. Otherwise it was fun to read.

I received this book for free through goodreads :)

[Cheryl]

nonfiction, unique story, potential for children's libraries