The Man Who Walked Between The Towers

Bibliography: Gerstein, M., & Tuosto, F. (2003). The man who walked between the towers. New Milford: Roaring Brook Press

Annotation: A man is a street performer in New York City, his act is tight rope walking. One day he gets the idea of stretching a rope from the twin towers. Him and his friends pretended to be construction workers during the building of the towers. They carried steal rope all the way up to the very top of the towers. By morning Philippe was ready to walk from tower to tower. After the crowed noticed him the police arrested him and the judge appointed him to perform for the children in the park. The book then shows that the towers are no gone but the day Philippe walked in between them still remains.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Grade: 2-6

Readers: The readers that would enjoy this are historical fiction readers. Children that know about the attacks on 9/11.

Rate/Response: 10, I love this book! This book is a great book to begin the hard discussion of 9/11. The illustrations are phenomenal in this book. I think this book is also great for the children who have been conflicted by the attack because it in a way gives them a sense of hope.

Question: Do you know what the World Trade Center Towers are? How many know the story of 9/11? Do you have a special talent?

Caldecott Winner 2003

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Bibliographic Information: MacLachlan, Patricia. (1985). Sarah, Plain and Tall. Illus. Marcia Sewall. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Brief Annotation: This story is about a family that has lost their wife and mother as well as her songs. Papa sends out an advertisement for a wife and mother. Set in the prairies of the West, this farming family learns to love and accept Sarah, plain and tall, as their own. She is from the East coast and brings with her a seal grey cat, sea shells, songs, determination and lots of love for her new life and family.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade Level: Read alouds, grades 2-4; Independent reading ages 8-12

Readers who will like this: If you enjoy stories of the West and historical fiction, you will enjoy this wonderfully poignant and beautifully descriptive story.

Response/Rating (1-4): Every time I read this story my senses are fully engaged; I can smell the sea and hear the wind howling over the prairie grasses. This book is short but the story is tender with emotion and is humorous. I know there are other stories in the series, but I wish this story went on a little longer. I rate it 3 of 4.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: How would you describe the landscapes of the West and East? From the title, what do you think Sarah is like? What does "plain" mean? Why do yo think people put advertisements in newspapers for wives?