Customer Reviews

The Giant of Seville: A "Tall" Tale Based on a True Story

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Seville, Ohio was one of those quiet towns where nothing ever, ever exiting happened, but one day when the noon train pulled in there was someone very interesting on it. The man was so big that when he leaned out a window he almost reached to the sky with his stovepipe hat. Of course the only way he could ride was to "sit sideways on the seat with his head sticking out of the window." People soon found out that this giant was Captain Martin Van Buren Bates, known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." He was a circus giant looking for a place to live with his wife, but he had to find just the right place for them because they were so BIG.

He stayed at Mrs. Crawley's boardinghouse where she welcomed him with open arms. The "open" had to be extended to the window of his room because he had to stick his feet 'n toes out so he wouldn't be all cramped up in his "king-size bed." Martin's appetite was as big as his bed. He loved pancakes and the ladies of the town "mixed four gallons of cake batter and had five frying pans going at once." He was beginning to feel very welcome, but at the square dance that evening ... well, let's say he kind of wrecked the floor. After that fiasco would Seville, Ohio be the kind of town he'd want to take his wife to?

This charming tall tale brought a smile to my lips and I fell in love with not only Captain Martin Van Buren Bates, but also Mrs. Crawley and the entire town of Seville. The art work meshed perfectly with this story and made Martin into a likable, lovable man and not a buffoon. In the back of the book there is a real picture of Martin and his wife Anna and a brief biography of the two of them, "Seville's most famous residents." There are a lot of different people in this world, but there is a place for everyone, isn't there?

This is a book about my great great great great uncle which I just discovered. It is a humerous tale of his life. I just love it.

Reviewed by Eric Zeda (age 8) for Reader Views (5/07)



This story is about Martin the Giant, who was looking for a place to live. He arrived at a town called Seville. When he got to town a crowd of people came to him. He stayed at a boardinghouse and was treated nicely. The problem was that he was too big for the bed and the house. One day, he went to a square dance and broke the floor. He felt sad and said "put it on my tab." He thought people weren't going to like him and he decided to leave town, but the people surprised him and made a giant-sized house. He called his wife and they moved to the town.

I loved the part when Martin ate a lot of pancakes. I learned that being different is okay. You don't have to be the same to get along. I think kids should read "The Giant of Seville."



Reviewed by Samuel Peralta (age 6) for Reader Views (5/07)

This "Tall Tale" is based on a true story. Measuring seven-feet, eleven-and-a-half-inches, "Martin the Giant" arrives in the town of Seville, Ohio looking for a home. He is concerned that he is too big for the town. He spends some time at a local boardinghouse and is befriended by Mrs. Crawley. During his stay Martin the Giant discovers that friendships are worth more than materialistic assets. He learns that he has made true friends that accept and love him for who he is.

My son Sammy is six. He was happy to see that the people from town built Martin the Giant a house. He thought it was "cool that the house had doorways that were eight feet tall." He would recommend this book to his friends.

Parent's Note: This is a good book when you need to talk to your children about being different or accepting others who are different. I enjoyed the author's note. Sammy was really impressed when he found out Ms. Van Buren measured eight feet tall.


Book received free of charge

Capt. Bates is, as I mentioned, related to me. He was a man who wore many hats in his life: He was a farmer, a war hero, a circus phenomenon and... yes.. a giant. He was a gentle soul who cared very much about people but was also a very brave man who was tough as nails.

It's great to find a book that captures the spirit of this formidable and respectable man.

Nice work, Mr. Andreasen! :-)