13 Skyscrapers Children Should Know

13 Skyscrapers Children Should Know

This newest addition to Prestel’s acclaimed series, which introduces children to important works of art and architecture, takes young readers around the world to investigate how tall buildings are constructed and what makes them so appealing. There’s something irresistible about a skyscraper. It can reshape an entire city skyline, and from the building’s top floors, people can see the world from a different perspective. Travelling from New York City to Dubai, from London to Shanghai, and from Kuala Lumpur to Chicago, this colorful book features double-page spreads for each of the skyscrapers it profiles. Each chapter includes photographs, information on the building’s architect and history, and interesting facts about its construction and use. For instance, why is the Chrysler Building so admired, even though it doesn’t stand nearly as tall as other skyscrapers? How do you measure the height of a building and how do you make sure it doesn’t topple over in strong winds? How has skyscraper technology changed from the steel frame skeletons that supported the earliest towers to the advanced computer programs that are now needed to design buildings more than 100 stories high? How has city life changed since the first skyscrapers were built? Written in a style that will draw in young readers, this fascinating tour of the world’s tallest buildings will satisfy even the most curious minds. Gr 4–8—While the cover design lends this a textbooklike appearance, the content is anything but. Using sharp photographs and easy-to-read explanatory text, Finger describes the origins and unique architectural features of world-famous buildings such as the Woolworth Building in New York City, the Shard in London, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Included are details about what makes each building special in terms of design, use of materials, and aesthetics. For example, the tree trunk-like Shanghai Tower twists as it rises to give it greater stability. The tower also contains sun-drenched parks on every floor so that workers and residents can enjoy greenspace without leaving the building. For each building, there is a sidebar with quick facts: the number of years it took to build, the architectural style, the height, the number of floors, and the designer. A time line spanning 115 years shows what else was happening in the world before and after each building's completion. Finger includes information and photos about other buildings similar to those featured. VERDICT Students interested in structural design elements, architecture, urban living, or the integration of greenspaces will find plenty to glean from this fascinating look at the evolution of skyscrapers. A solid purchase for collections in need of kid-friendly books on building design.—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID "From ancient Egypt’s great pyramids to medieval Europe’s cathedral towers, humans have always tried to build structures that reach the sky, whether out of practicality or hubris. This book showcases 13 of the world’s best-known and most influential skyscrapers . . . In clearly designed, well laid-out pages, each skyscraper is accompanied by a box that provides quick details (date of construction, architectural style, designer, height), while a time line at the top contextualizes the building." — Booklist About the series "Each book in this kid-friendly series showcases 13 notable artists or architects; important works (from bridges to Sculpture); or movements within the fields of art, fashion, and architecture. These comprehensive, visually appealing books are international in scope and always intelligently written." — Booklist "Students interested in structural design elements, architecture, urban living, or the integration of greenspaces will find plenty to glean from this fascinating look at the evolution of skyscrapers. A solid purchase for collections in need of kid-friendly books on building design." — School Library Journal BRAD FINGER is the author of 13 Modern Artists Children Should Know and 13 American Artists Children Should Know (both by Prestel). He lives outside Chicago, Illinois.