Wilt's on Stilts! [Hardcover]

R. E. Frederick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2000

Wilt is unhappy: he has trouble keeping up with others, playing games, and climbing into the tree house because his legs are too short. So Wilt builds stilts and wears them to keep up, play games, and climb into the tree house. He is teased: "Wilt's on Stilts!", and his parents find uses for Wilt's new height.

Wilt does not want to be useful, so he builds new stilts that are so long that he can walk a mile in only two-and-a-half steps!

Only after he’s traveled for a year around the world on his stilts does Wilt return home, happy with himself and his own height – a height which is now tall enough for Wilt to keep up with others, play games, and climb into the tree house.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

We chose this book because we liked that it had a unique way of saying 'Patience child, you will grow up fast enough.'

This book has been checked out by many kids and edited by them too: it fits them well. The author is a teacher and knows many children.

See the illustrations for yourself by clicking the 'Look inside this book!' link; you'll see well-designed pictures that tell the story too.

From the Author

I enjoyed writing this book. It is the first published of many books I have written that have to do with children and the issues they face in growing up. I chose this one to do first because I remember well one of my greatest wishes as a kid was to be taller. In my case, it was granted -- I am 6 feet 8 inches tall! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Robert E. Frederick (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970808003
• ISBN-13: 978-0970808004
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,759,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

R. E. Frederick was born in Terre Haute, Indiana to a school teacher and a librarian, who each had a passion for storytelling. Like his parents, Robert too developed this passion, as well as inheriting their desire to grow throughout their lives -- qualities that the characters in his children's stories also often exhibit. The art Robert draws for his children's books is in a style after children's drawing themselves, representing his understanding that children like to see drawings that they themselves think they could make, an understanding Robert came to after teaching his first art classes to elementary-school students over two decades ago. When he's not writing and illustrating children's books, Robert writes and produces multimedia about science as an independent, award-winning journalist.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational, June 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Wilt's on Stilts! (Hardcover)

I read this to one of the classes at a school where I was a substitute teacher. After finishing the book, the shortest boy in the class stood up and declared that someday he would be taller than everyone and that everybody should stop picking on him. I returned to the school to sub for another class and saw him leading the class to the cafeteria. He saw me, smiled and proclaimed that Wilt was his hero.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliance, May 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Wilt's on Stilts! (Hardcover)

This book can easily compare to such classic novels as Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" or James Joyce's "Ulysses", it's that good. It has many parallels and metaphors that draw true to many modern day philosophies and conflicts. A brilliant work! I laughed, I cried and I slept. Thank you R.E. for giving me the opportunity to share in your vision.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars My problems, May 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Wilt's on Stilts! (Hardcover)

After reading the brilliant, captivating novel "Wilt's on Stilts!", I recollected a time in my childhood. I was always the shortest person in my class, so one day, I tried to pretend I was tall and came to school on stilts. I thought I fooled everyone! Unfortunately, I didn't. People knew I was wearing stilts and one kid knocked me off of them. I fell and am now unable to walk. DAMN YOU! It's all coming back! (Tears and sadness)