For readers who dream of grand adventures and faraway lands, this expansive tale sparks curiosity and the spirit of exploration through a legendary journey.
A parent might reach for this book when their imaginative child is captivated by grand adventures, far-off lands, and stories that blur the line between fact and fiction. This visually stunning book tells the possibly true, possibly embellished life story of Jan Welzl, a Czech man who journeyed to the Arctic and lived a life of incredible adventure. Through Peter Sis's signature intricate illustrations and diary-like text, the book explores themes of perseverance, curiosity, and the deep satisfaction of a life lived on one's own terms. It's best for patient readers aged 9 to 12 who love to get lost in details. It is a wonderful choice to spark a conversation about storytelling, history, and the different ways a person can live a meaningful life.
The primary sensitive topic is the depiction of Indigenous peoples. The book uses the historical term “Eskimos” and portrays them through the lens of a European adventurer of that era. The portrayal is not malicious but lacks authentic Indigenous perspective. It's a secular account of a life. The resolution is not a plot point, but a reflection on a life lived; it is ambiguous about the truth of the tales, but hopeful in its celebration of imagination and spirit.
Ideal Reader
This is for a thoughtful, visually-oriented child aged 9-12 who loves poring over details. The ideal reader enjoys books like The Way Things Work or detailed map atlases just as much as fiction. They are not looking for a fast-paced plot, but are captivated by world-building, history, and the lives of unique individuals. This child likely has a rich inner world and daydreams of exploration and invention.
Parent Prep
A parent should be prepared to discuss the nature of a “tall tale” and the idea that a story can be emotionally true even if not factually accurate. It would be beneficial to provide context for the historical term “Eskimo” and discuss the modern, correct terms like Inuit and Yupik, explaining that the book reflects the language of its historical subject. Otherwise, it can be read cold. A parent sees their child engrossed in documentaries about explorers, drawing detailed maps of imaginary lands, or reading nonfiction about survival. The child asks, “Do you think something like that could really happen?” This book is the perfect answer, straddling the line between could and did.
Age Experience
A younger reader, around 8 or 9, will focus on the specific amazing events: Welzl building a sled, escaping a bear, the strange creatures. They will experience it as a magical book of wonders. An older reader, 11 or 12, is more likely to grasp the meta-narrative: the theme of storytelling, the question of Welzl's reliability as a narrator, and the artistry of Sis's project in bringing this legend to life.
What Makes It Special
Its unique format is the key differentiator. It is not a novel with illustrations; it is a complete synthesis of art and text where both are essential. Unlike other adventure stories, its power comes from the ambiguity of its truth and its celebration of an eccentric, unverified life. The intricate, symbolic, and map-like art of Peter Sis makes the reading experience an act of discovery in itself.
Read plot summary
The book presents itself as the rediscovered memoir of Jan Welzl, a Czech man who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, traveled through Siberia and lived for decades in the Arctic. He recounts a series of fantastical adventures: building a life in the frozen north, interacting with Indigenous peoples, hunting, trapping, and allegedly discovering vast riches. The narrative is a series of vignettes rather than a linear plot, told in a folksy, matter-of-fact tone. The story is conveyed as much, if not more, through Peter Sis’s incredibly detailed, map-like, and symbolic illustrations which fill every page.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
On many pages, the drawings tell a story that the words don't. Can you find an example of this? What extra information did you learn from looking closely at the illustrations?
2
Jan Welzl's stories are so amazing that it's hard to know what's true and what's made up. Do you think it matters if every detail is factually correct? Why might someone tell their life story this way?
3
Welzl chose a life of independence in the Far North. What do you think were the best parts of living this way? What would have been the hardest parts for you?
4
The book is called a "Small Tall Tale." What do you think that title means? How can a story be both small and tall at the same time?
