In the 1870s, a circus giant named Captain Martin Van Buren Bates (nicknamed the "8th Wonder of the World") left the circus and set off to find a town where he and his wife (also a circus giant) could live in peace and away from the ridicule of judgmental or fearful neighbours. Captain Bates happened on Seville, Ohio, a sleepy little town that charmed him from the moment he arrived and welcomed him with open arms. In this story, the town constructs a special giant-sized house in which he and his wife can live comfortably, based on the true story of how Captain Bates built a home on 130 acres of farm land in Seville, complete with specialised furniture and 8-foot high doors. Containing a brief author's note and archival photo, children will relate to the heart-warming story of a man who couldn't fit in anywhere, but how the kindness of strangers changed his life. Martin and Anna Bates were history's tallest known married couple are still Seville's most famous residents.

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Picture Book category by the Young Hoosier Book Award. It was recognised by the Great Lakes Book Award. It also was recognised in the Picture Book category by the South Carolina Childrens Junior and Young Adult Book Award.

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2007 by Abrams .

Dan Andreasen has illustrated more than twenty-five books for children, including The Treasure Bath, A Baker's Dozen, and Firebears: The Rescue Team . Dan lives in Medina, Ohio, with his family.