The Tightrope Wanderer

By Federica Ortolan

In this whimsical story, a tightrope walker must balance more than just his body as he faces changes that threaten his way of life.

Once, there was a tightrope walker. For forty years, he traveled the world in wind-colored clothing and a bright red bandana, never staying in one town for more than a day. At each new place, he would pluck a single strand of his impossibly long hair and walk across it, with balance, courage, faith, and grace. As he began, he would recall a wise saying he had once heard: "The world is a very narrow bridge. The secret is not to be afraid."

As the years went on, he noticed his hair growing thinner and thinner. He sought every remedy, but nothing worked to replace the many hairs he had pulled out. The more he performed, the fewer there were, until not one remained and the tightrope walker had to find a whole new way to touch the sky.

"Timeless quality befitting the enduring wisdom of its lessons." --Foreword, Starred Review

"Lyrical language and quiet reflections on nature and fate are what power this tale." --Kirkus Reviews

"Quietly profound and visually arresting, this is destined to become an intergenerational selection." --School Library Journal

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1681157284
• ISBN13: 9781681157283
• Release Date: October 2026
• Publisher: Apples & Honey Press
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.4" x 11.9"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3