Mordicai Gerstein has produced a book that touches upon many difficult topics in his Caldecott Medal winning picture book "The man who walked between the towers." Gerstein dares to address the fate of the World Trade Center towers and to make that address to children. He does this task with tack and compassion while attaching it to a "joyful memory" of the towers about a daring young man named Philippe Petit. The story of "The man who walked between the towers" may also bring up issues of doing dangerous pranks, and breaking rules that children will no doubt have questions about.
The art work in this book is beautiful. The main colours of blue, black, white and yellow and the layout evoke a feelings of freedom, daring and being alone. Heights and size are portrayed vividly with the lines and perspective of the illustrations and the ever present sky and clouds frame each picture lending it a special mood. The twin towers are a great force in each frame they appear as their gleaming white walls tower over the smaller buildings nearby. This book is worth of winning the prestigious Caldecott Medal and it is worthy of consideration by children and adults alike.
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