King of the Tightrope: When the Great Blondin Ruled Niagara

In 1859, The Great Blondin took the most dangerous tightrope walk of his career--a death-defying walk across Niagara Falls. History and STEAM combine for an edge-of-your-seat read.

At the age of four, Jean-Francois Gravelet walked across his first balance beam. Later, he took to the tightrope like a spider to its web and climbed toward stardom. Though his feats became more and more marvelous, he grew bored. That is, until he visited Niagara Falls and imagined doing something that no one else had ever accomplished.

To cross the raging river, the Great Blondin needed determination, an understanding of engineering, and a belief that what he could imagine, he could accomplish. And in 1859, with all of his preparation complete, Blondin stepped out onto the most dangerous tightrope walk he’d ever faced.

Award-winning nonfiction author Donna Janell Bowman uses her trademark in-depth research to give readers a close look at the hard work and meticulous mathematic and scientific planning it took to plan and execute and astonish feat. Adam Gustavson’s detailed illustrations turn this book into an experience that will astound and inspire. This fascinating, STEAM-filled story will have readers holding their breath!

Donna Janell Bowman is the award-winning author of a number of children’s books, including Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World about Kindness. She earned an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in central Texas with two-legged and four-legged family members--none of whom are funambulists.www.donnajanellbowman.com

Adam Gustavson is the award-winning illustrator of over thirty books for children. He lives, paints, teaches, and plays music in his home state of New Jersey, along with his charming family and a neurotic poodle. Not a funambulist, he finds plenty of excitement walking around in socks on polished wood floors.www.adamgustavson.com