Sunday, December 1, 2019

King of the Tightrope : When the Great Blondin Ruled Niagara written by Donna Janell Bowman - ESSENTIAL

King of the Tightrope : When the Great Blondin Ruled Niagara written by Donna Janell Bowman, illustrated by Adam Gustavson, PICTURE BOOK Peachtree Publishing, 2019. $18. 9781561459377 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Jean-François Gravelet came from a family of performers - acrobats and gymnasts and funambulists. So, it's no surprise that when Gravelet first saw Niagara Falls he wanted to cross it on a tight rope. So he raised some money, ordered the supplies and began the work to build the tightrope. By the time it was ready (about a week later) thousands of people came to watch, but did "The Great Blondin" make it safely across? 

Such an inspiring story! Adam Gustavson's illustrations are amazing: a little whimsical, very realistic and represent the time period perfectly. Bowman's text was exciting as well as educational. I love picture book biographies, especially when they are about lesser known people. Children will enjoy this story, adults will look him up to learn more. Includes a time line, list of facts on both Blondin and Niagara Falls and tips on doing your own research.

Lisa Librarian

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