Overview

Imagine being the tallest person in the world. As a child. You just keep growing and growing and growing...six feet...seven feet...eight feet up. The world is made in miniature and you must constantly endure. The crush of public attention is relentless. Some people are kind, some are mean. All are curious. This may sound like a tale from long ago, but this is the inspirational true life story of young Robert Wadlow. The victim of an overactive pituitary gland, Robert lived from 1918 to 1940. He stood just shy of 9 feet tall by the time of his death at age 22 and remains the world's tallest man in medical history listed in the Guinness World Records. Robert didn't choose his situation, but his accomplishment was in how he handled it. A children's biography about coming to terms with standing out and being different. Includes historical images. Grades 2-5.

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9781734233612

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Reviews

A well written account of Robert Wadlow's life. I would encourage the reading of it. Read it to your children, your school children and for yourself. The author includes thought provoking questions at the end of the book which provide for discussion with your students or your children to add more meaning to the story and understanding of Robert's challenges to a normal life. Phillips also through her writing showed the understanding and caring the parents had for their son. This is a refreshing, positive read. One of many things I loved about this book was that it possesses a rare quality that so many non-fiction biographies written for children lack. It teaches many valuable lessons about right and wrong in life without being in your face about it, just by telling Robert Wadlow's life story. You find out that being the tallest person in the world was not exactly Christmas every day, alongside with cool facts how Robert's mom recycled his old clothes for use by other family members. It talks about growing up while looking very different from everyone else and finding your place in the world, community and in the lives of the ones closest to you. The book is funny, sad, informative, full of great historical photos, extraordinarily well researched, entertaining, and after you are done with it, it leaves you feeling that you learned something new about the world we live in. At the end of the book there are a series of thoughtful questions and activities to explore that cover topics from history of Great Depression and living in 1920s to science.

Author Information

Jennifer Phillips grew up in Alton, Illinois and doesn't remember a time when she didn't know Robert Wadlow's story. There were school field trips to the Wadlow Room at the Franklin Masonic Lodge and visits to the Alton museum. Even now, she always visits Robert's statue when going home. A former newspaper reporter, Jennifer lives in Shoreline, Washington and likes to write about almost anything and everything. She especially likes writing for children but has done her share of writing for grown-ups, too. You can find free supplemental materials for Robert's biography, as well as details about her other works, on her main website at jenniferphillipsauthor.com.

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