The man who walked between the towers

Mordicai Gerstein

Cover of The man who walked between the towers

The man who walked between the towers

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mordicai Gerstein

Reading Level 3-4 Gentle (Lvl 1) Ages 5-8 Balanced Read
Caldecott Medal

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

What if you could walk high above a city on a tiny wire, with nothing but the wind and sky around you? Imagine stepping out onto a tightrope stretched between two giant towers, each step a daring adventure. Could you keep your balance and hold your breath as the world watches below?

Quick Assessment

This beautifully illustrated picture book recounts Philippe Petit's breathtaking 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Suitable for early readers ages 5-8, it introduces children to themes of courage, creativity, and perseverance without any frightening content. The book captures a real-life event with poetic language and vivid imagery, making it a gentle yet inspiring read.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 1 — Gentle
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
3
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
3
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

48 pages
ISBN
9780761317913
Pages
48
Publisher
Macmillan
Published
2003
Type
Fiction
Lexile
640L

Genres

Subjects

Petit, Philippe, 1949-World Trade CenterTightrope WalkingAerialistsFranceAcrobats and AcrobaticsFunambulismeAthletesNew York CityAcrobaticsCourageEntertainersBenevolenceDaredevilsPerseveranceIntegrityTrickstersPerforming ArtsHistoricalBiography & AutobiographyAdventure and AdventurersAward:Caldecott_awardLexile:640Lexile_range:601-700Lexile_code:ADAge:min:6Age:max:9Grade:min:KindergartenGrade:max:PreschoolOccupations

People

Philippe Petit (1949-)

Places

France