Module 3: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Summary: A young French street performer in New York City decides that has to walk a tight rope between the Twin Towers.

Citation:Gerstein, M. (2003). The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. New York: Roaring Book Press.

 Review:
Booklist (November 1, 2003 (Vol. 100, No. 5))“PreS-Gr. 3. 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 dressed as a construction worker, and, with the help of friends, lugged a reel of cable up the steps during the night and linked the buildings in the sky. As dawn broke, he stepped out on the wire and performed tricks above the city. Gerstein uses varied perspectives to tell the story--from the close-up jacket picture of one foot on the rope to the fold-out of Petit high above the traffic, swaying in the wind. Then there's a quiet view of the city skyline now, empty of the towers, and an astonishing image of the tiny figure high on the wire between the ghostly buildings we remember” (Booklist, 2003).

Impressions:
I was actually familiar with this story when I saw a documentary years ago about 9/11 and the Twin Towers. It always fascinated me and was excited when I came across the children’s book. I actually read the book to my seventh grade History classes in honor of First Responder’s Day. I wanted them to hear a story about the towers before they were destroyed. You could hear a pin drop while I read the story to them. They couldn’t believe that Petit would attempt such a feat and that he did not fall. After I read the story, we went to the computer lab and they looked up actual photos of Petit. He truly was “the daredevil in the clouds” (Lazarovic, 2002).

Lazarovic, S. (2002). The Daredevil in the Clouds. National Post Monday. Retrieved from http://www.longliveirony.com/Petit.html

Library setting::
Collaborate with teachers to use the book to engage in reciprocal teaching.
“Reciprocal teaching refers to an instructional activity in which students become the teacher in small group reading sessions. Teachers model, then help students learn to guide group discussions using four strategies: summarizing, question generating, clarifying, and predicting. Once students have learned the strategies, they take turns assuming the role of teacher in leading a dialogue about what has been read” (Reading Rockets, 2011).

Reciprocal Teaching. (2011). Reading Rockets. Retrieved from
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/reciprocal_teaching/




Booklist. (2003). [Review of the book The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordaci Gerstein. Booklist 100(5). Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=021134f110103a1f4b7054a6a043ea37

　



Summary:Sylvester, who collects rocks as a hobby, comes across a small red pebble, realizes it grants wishes and decides to take it home. On the way home, he encounters a lion and in a moment of panic, wishes to be turned into a rock. Unfortunately, he has to be holding the rock in order for his wishes to be granted. He remains a rock until one day when his parents, who have accepted the fact that Sylvester is gone forever, decide to go on a picnic, find the pebble, pick it up and place it on the rock that is Sylvester and Sylvester returns to his normal self.

Citation: Steig, W. (1969). Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Impressions: There is an old Chinese proverb that states “Beware of what you wish for”; Sylvester should have heeded these words when he decided to wish himself to be turned into a rock and then couldn’t wish himself back to his normal self. His poor parents must have been going out of their mind looking for him.

Review:

Publishers Weekly (November 21, 2005)Thanks to the rediscovery of the original watercolor artwork, in preparation for an exhibit of William Steig's work (see Children's Bookshelf, Oct. 27), newly restored edition of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, complete with Steig's acceptance speech for the Caldecott Medal, makes the book look better than ever. This tale of a donkey who wishes on a magic pebble has charmed a generation of readers and will no doubt go on to attract a new one. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Library settingOne idea would be to have younger students draw a picture of a wish, then glue a ‘magic’ pebble onto their picture and write a sentence about what their wish would be (Activities and Work Samples, n.d.).

Another idea for older students could be to give a lesson on fables and proverbs and teach the one by the Chinese; “Beware of what you wish for”. This lesson could coincide with the Asian Festival hosted by the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio in late January or early February, which celebrates all Asian cultures.

Publisher’s Weekly. (2005). [Review for the book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig]. Publisher’s Weekly. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=021134f110103a1f4b7054a6a043ea37

Activities and Work Samples. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.bridgew.edu/Library/CAGS_Projects/KGOLDNER/pebbleact.htm