13 Skyscrapers Children Should Know (13 Children Should Know) - Hardcover

Finger, Brad

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3791372513 ISBN 13: 9783791372518

Publisher: Prestel Junior, 2016

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

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.

From School Library Journal

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

About this edition

• Publisher: Prestel Junior
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 3791372513
• ISBN 13: 9783791372518
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48