Concrete from the Ground Up

Concrete: From the Ground Up 
by Larissa Theule
illustrated by Steve Light
Candlewick Press, 2022

Grades 2-6

Concrete: From the Ground Up is the perfect blend of science and history in picture book form.  The book begins with scientific information about the composition of concrete and how it is different from cement. Using an expository writing style, Theule uses a chronological structure to trace the history of concrete in architecture from around the world. From the Parthenon in Ancient Rome to Machu Picchu constructed by the Incas, concrete has been an important role in buildings and structures for thousands of years. Readers will also learn about reinforced concrete of modern day that is used with steel to build skyscrapers, dams and bridges. Famous landmarks are featured in throughout the book including the Hoover Dam, the Berlin Wall, and Sydney Opera House.

Light's pen, ink and watercolor illustrations provide readers with diagrams and visuals while also adding a comic element with the cartoon-style people and speech bubble captions.  Concrete: From the Ground Up is sure to be a hit with fans of The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London't Poop Problem. Visit Larissa Theule's website to view pages from the book.

The World Is Not a Rectangle by Jeanette Winter

The World is Not A Rectangle: a portrait of architect Zaha Hadid

Written and Illustrated by Jeanette Winter

Beach Lane Books: imprint of Simon & Schuster. 2017

ISBN: 9781481446993

All ages

Note: While Cathy Potter is on Sabbatical, Louise is writing all the reviews. Cathy will return February, 2018.

Jeanette Winter turns her talent as a writer and illustrator to tell the life of Iraqi architect, Zaha Mohammad Hadid. Zaha was “the most irreverent, controversial, and celebrated architect in the world.”  

Zaha, born on October 31, 1950, grew up in Baghdad, Iraq. With her father she would visit rivers, marshes, dunes, “and imagined what cities looked like thousand of years ago.” 

Zaha moved to London to attend college. After graduating, she would open a studio in an old school building. Nicknamed, "Queen of the Curve," her buildings were never a rectangular shape. She took inspiration from the surrounding landscapes, making her buildings unique. Zaha never wanted her work to fit nicely inside an accepted box.

Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, completed in 2012.

This informational picture book biography is a brief introduction to a remarkable woman. In 2004, Zaha became the first woman and first Muslim to win the coveted Pritzker Architecture Prize. Sadly, she passed away in March, 2016.

The book's design models how Zaha saw her world, not as a rectangle, but full of curves that reflect the flow of the environment where her buildings now stand. The text, instead of linear across the page seem to undulate above and below Winter's gorgeous art. 

Back matter includes a two page spread that identifies where each of Zaha's buildings, shown in the book, reside. Also, a brief author’s note, a few quotes from Zaha, and a bibliography of sources Winter used for research.

Share with students interested in design or put on display with other books about remarkable women. 

To write this review, I borrowed this book from my local public library.

Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey

Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines: Designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

by Jeanne Walker Harvey; Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

Christy Ottaviano Books; Henry Holt and Company. 2017

ISBN: 9781250112491

Grades 3 and up

To write this review, I borrowed the book from my local public library.

Note: While Cathy Potter is on Sabbatical, Louise is writing all the reviews. Cathy will return February, 2018.

“Maya grew up with art. Her father was an artist who made art with clay. Her mother was a poet who made art with words.”

Her parents, immigrants to the U.S., fled China because they didn’t like being told what to be and what to think. “Her parents never told Maya what to be or how to think.”

In 32 pages, including an author’s note, Walker introduces Chinese-American Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. 

Phumiruk’s detailed sketches, created digitally in Adobe Photoshop with scans of watercolor and texture, convey a sense of wonder at the world as seen through the eyes of Lin. Phumiruk uses tones of green, brown, grays that reflect a child who was silent, observant, and found solace in nature. 

Maya Lin was studying architecture at Yale when, in her last year of college, she entered a contest to design a memorial to those who died  during the Vietnam War. “The contest rules said that the memorial must blend with a park setting and include the names of every soldier who died fighting or was missing.”  That is almost 56,000 names. 

Maya’s design was chosen out of 1,421 entries. When the judges discovered she was only a student, they were furious. Yet, Maya stood strong and eventually her design was approved.

Harvey begins with Lin as a young girl and follows her journey, travel, college, the winning of the prestigious contest, and the building of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In one double-page spreads we watch the memorial being built and, turning the page, see the very personal experience individuals have visiting the memorial. Harvey ends this remarkable picture book biography briefly explaining Lin’s process for creating her projects.

A good introduction to creativity, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for all ages.

Secrets of the Sky Caves

Secrets of the Sky Caves: Danger and Discovery on Nepal's Mustang Cliffs 
by Sandra K. Athans
Millbrook Press, 2014.
ISBN: 9781467700160
Grades 4-8

The reviewer received an electronic galley from the publisher.

High in the mountains in a region between India and Tibet, there are a series of caves carved out by people thousands of years ago. Sandra K. Athans takes readers on an adventure to discover that secrets of what was left behind thousands of years ago in the Sky Caves.

Secrets of the Sky Caves takes place in the Mustang region which is controlled by Nepal. In 2007 a team that included climbers, archaeologists, an author and two children spent thirty days traveling to the "Sky Caves" in Mustang. The caves were carved to be used as dwellings and burial chambers beginning around 1000 BCE. The 2007 expedition was led by Pete Athans, brother of the author. Using climbing gear, the team was able to reach caves high in the mountainous region where they discovered cave paintings dating back to the 1100s. They also located ancient, clay artifacts and rare manuscript papers containing religious writing. The team returned several times with the permission of the government of Nepal and Buddhist leaders. Their mission was to remove artifacts and papers and to document what they had discovered including numerous mummified bodied and the heads of mummified animals.

The unique topic along with the narrative writing style will hold the attention of middle grade readers. The book is well-organized and contains text features including maps, a timeline, and detailed captions that will help readers understand the information presented. Stunning photographs are thoughtfully placed throughout the book giving readers a glimpse into the beauty of the region and the amazing caves.

It is evident the author spent a great deal of time interviewing members of the expedition and researching the Mustang region. In addition to learning about the work of archeologists and translators, readers will also gain an understanding of the history and religion of Mustang.

Fans of the Scientist in the Field series will want to check out Secrets of the Sky Caves. It gives readers a glimpse of the important and interesting work of archeologists and historians.

Visit the Lerner Publishing site to preview pages from the book.

Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building

Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building 
by Christy Hale
Lee & Low Books Inc., 2012
ISBN: 9781600606519
Grades K-4

The reviewed received a copy of the book from the publisher.

The winners of the 2013 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards were announced recently. The nonfiction winner this year was Electric Ben. Two books were name nonfiction honor books: Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building and Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America.

If you haven't had a chance to read Dreaming Up, you need to seek out this book. It's amazing! This nonfiction picture book by Christy Hale incorporates poetry, architecture and children at play. Don't be fooled by the young boy pictured on the cover, Dreaming Up will appeal to a wide range of readers from grades K-4.

Each two-page spread contains a poem accompanied by a mixed media illustration on the left side of the page. The illustrations depict children building with material such as cups, cardboard boxes, sand, Legos, and playing cards. The right side of the page includes a photograph of a building related to the poem and the illustration.

Not only do the illustrations and photographs show specific architectural designs, but the poems take the shape of the design as well. For example, the Sclera Pavilion in London is shown near the end of the book. "Vertical slats of wood were used to create this circular building." In the illustration, two boys are pictured glueing popsicle sticks to a round container. The poem on that page is written in vertical lines that reflect the same structure as the Scelra Pavilion.

Dreaming Up would make an ideal read aloud. With the combination of poetry, architecture, creative play, and artwork, readers will find many aspects to discuss in a group setting. Children will also enjoy learning more about the architects and their designs in the pages at the back of the book. Readers may become inspired to experiment with design as they build their own structures out of everyday material.

It's fitting that ALSC included Dreaming Up in the Lego: Read, Build, Play activity guide and reading list: http://www.readbuildplay.com/Reading-Summer-Guide-Age-3-5.pdf

Visit Christy Hale's web site to view pages from the book.

Other reviews of Dreaming Up:
Great Kid Books
Book Dragon
Wrapped in Foil
STEM Friday

The House That George Built

The House That George Built
by Suzanne Slade
illustrated by Rebecca Bond
Charlesbridge, 2012
ISBN: 9781580892629
Grades K-5

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

Attention will be on The White House next week as President Barack Obama is inaugurated for a second term as President of the United States. The House That George Built is the perfect book for children who want to know more about the history of the President's home. The book has a lot of kid appeal. Each two-page spread contains a paragraph about how the White House was built accompanied by a rhyme in the style of This Is the House That Jack Built.

"This is the foundation,
that was dug for our nation,
that held the design,
that would stand for all time,
that was drawn for the lot,
that grand, scenic spot,
for the President's House that George built."

Young readers will enjoy hearing about the contest to design the president's home. They may be surprised to learn that President Washington helped to survey the land and measure the building site. A shortage of stone forced Washington to change the design from three stories to two. Ink and watercolor illustrations use the entire page; illustrations show workers laying bricks, chiseling stone and cutting lumber during construction. After all the planning and work, George Washington didn't live to see the White House finished. John and Abigail Adams moved into the home in 1800, the year after Washington died.

History buffs won't want to miss the page of interesting White House facts located in the back of the book. An author's note provides readers with further information; Slade points out that "Slaves, hired from their owners, and free black men also worked on this immense construction project."

The combination of rhyme, short informational paragraphs and delightful illustrations make The House That George Built an excellent read aloud for a range of ages. 

It's Nonfiction Monday! Head over to 100 Scope Notes to read the reviews.

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World by Giles Laroche

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World
by Giles Laroche
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011
ISBN: 9780547238920

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

November is Picture Book Month. In honor of the occasion we've reviewed beautiful picture book to share with young readers this month.

Many classes in my elementary school, from Kindergarten through fifth grade, study countries from around the world. Examining architecture is a fascinating way to explore similarities and differences between cultures, so I was eager to get my hands on If You Lived Here: Houses of the World.

The illustrations are definitely the main event in this nonfiction picture book. Laroche uses bas-relief cut-paper collage to illustrate homes from different parts of the world. Each two-page spread features a home and its surroundings. The inhabitants of the home are pictured outside taking part in chores or recreational activities. The layers of paper in different colors and textures add a depth to the illustrations that make them feel three-dimensional at times.

A paragraph describing what it would be like "If you lived here..." accompanies each illustration. Facts about the type of home, material, location, and time period are located in the same text box.

"If you lived here, you would step directly from your front door onto a boat to go to school."
(Venetian Palace in Venice, Italy)

The 15 dwellings described in the book include a stilt house from Chile, a chateau from France, and a Yurt from Mongolia. It would be helpful to readers if the location of each home was printed in bold print or used as a heading on each page. As I was savoring each intricately crafted collage, I wanted to know: What is the location of this home? I had to read through a page of small print to figure out the location. This won't be a problem for older readers (grades 3-5), but it may prove difficult for younger readers.

A map in the back of the book matches the homes to the region of the world. Children may want to compare book to a world atlas since countries or continents are not labelled on the map in the book.  Europe and North America are heavily represented in the book; South America and Africa are each represented one time (stilt house from Chile and decorated house from South Africa).

Children will enjoy the amazing illustrations in If You Lived Here, and teachers will want to read it aloud as part of social studies or art classes. This is a book that you can read again and again, and each time you'll notice something new. It could serve as a starting point for discussions about culture and how people live in different parts of the world.

4+ stars
(Grades K-5)

The Mysteries of Angkor Wat: exploring Cambodia's ancient temple by Richard Sobol

The Mysteries of Angkor Wat: exploring Cambodia's ancient temple

Richard Sobol wrote the text and took the photos

Candlewick Press, 2011

ISBN: 9780763641665

Book obtained from the public library.

Angkor Wat was built in 1100 CE by the Khmer people of Cambodia. It is the largest religious monument still in existence. The crumbling ruins are visited each year by millions of tourists. For years, Richard Sobol, an award winning photographer, dreamed of visiting Angkor Wat. "I wondered what mysteries waited for me inside those ancient walls."

This book is another entry in Sobol's Traveling Photographer series. (The Life of Rice: from seedling to supper, 2010)

It must be difficult to know what pictures you will need before writing the text of a book, yet the photographs in this book are spot-on. Sobol has a terrific eye for what is appealing to children. In almost every photo he not only gives us a visual of this ancient temple, but he includes children as well. Happy Cambodian children smiling from every picture. We learn that for these children, Angkor Wat is not only their playground, a place for them to explore, but also a means for income. 

"When we arrived at the entrance, the first thing I noticed was a group of children selling T-shirts, scarves, postcards, wooden flutes, and beaded bracelets to groups of tourists." 

Sobol's guide, John Teng explained "because more than two million tourists visit Angkor Wat each year, the children who live near the temple sell souvenirs in order to make a little extra money for their families."

The children also learn English at their school to aid them in communicating with these tourists. The children quizzed Sobol on the capitals of our states. "These kids remembered them all…way better than I did!"

This book is a beautiful travel log that gives some historical background on the temple. I loved how Sobol emphasized that though the carvings on the walls showed images of what everyday life was like during the time of the Khmer people, he noticed that it also reflected a contemporary Cambodia as well. It is obvious looking at the photographs that Sobol truly loves this part of the world. 

Children interested in the world's ancient wonders will find this book a good jumping off place to learn more about Cambodia.

4 Stars

(Grades 4 up)

Stupendous Sports Stadiums by Michael Sandler

Stupendous Sports Stadiums

By Michael Sandler

So Big Compared to What? series

Bearport, August 2011

ISBN 9781617723025

Reviewer received book directly from the publisher.

I frequently get asked for books about sports stadiums at the public library. Next time I will happily hand over Stupendous Sports Stadiums.

Nine stadiums located throughout the world are briefly highlighted here with the intention of explaining the unique feature that makes them 'stupendous': Cowboys Stadium in Texas, Beijing National Stadium in China, ANZ Stadium in Australia, Marina Bay Floating Stadium in Singapore, Allianz Arena in Germany, World Games Stadium in Taiwan, University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona, and Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Korea.

Each entry covers two pages. There is a heading stating the stadium’s name, date opened, location, seating capacity, and the stadium’s “Stupendous Feature”. A large color photo shows the exterior and each stadium’s ‘Stupendous Feature’. 

Though I am not a fan of any sport, I was interested to learn that the ‘Stupendous Feature’ at the University of Phoenix Stadium is a fully movable grass field. Apparently, it is easier on the legs of the NFL team to play in real grass, but “growing grass in hard to do beneath a stadium floor.”  

“The architects of University of Phoenix Stadium, however, found a way to build a roof and give the Arizona Cardinals football team real grass to play on.  The stadium floor – with the grass field on top – is a movable tray. It can slide right out of the stadium.” Very cool!

I was surprised to learn that most of the time the field sits outside the stadium, soaking up the sunlight. Then on game day, “the tray slides back inside the 13 train-track-like rails and more than 500 wheels.”

For those who love trivia, little bubbles help relate some pretty interesting stuff about the stadiums. For example, ANZ Stadium, located in Sydney, Australia, was built in 1999 for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. ANZ is one of the most eco-friendly stadiums in the world. 

The bubble states:

“ANZ Stadium has about 112 miles (180 km) of electric cable to power signs, video displays, and elevators. Stretched out, this cable would be longer than the distance from New York City to Philadelphia.”  Wow!  For the Cowboys Stadium, the enter and exit doors are “120 feet (37 m) high by 180 feet (55 m) wide – big enough for more than 20 school buses to drive through them at the same time!”

Some of the stadiums can hold up to 200,000 people. That’s almost as many people that live in Portland, Maine! (230,000)

This book includes a table of contents, glossary, index, and bibliography.

Part of the So Big Compared to What? series from Bearport Publishers, this is a good purchase for libraries, both public and school, that need to boost their sports section.