Old Penn Station

April 16, 2007
In an introductory note, Low (Chinatown
) explains that when he selected New York's original Pennsylvania Station as the subject of his master's thesis, he embarked on a journey to bring the landmark "back to life." Here he does so gracefully, through direct yet lyrical prose and dark paintings that range from close-up images to expansive panoramas, and from grainy to sharply focused. Outlining the history of the station, Low notes that the then-powerful Pennsylvania Railroad Company was determined to drop its New York-bound passengers in Manhattan, rather than have them take a ferry to the island from New Jersey, and "wanted to do it with style." After a renowned architectural firm and famous sculptor were hired, a tunnel was built under the Hudson River and the palace-like structure was opened in 1910. Narrative and art usher readers into the station's bustling concourse (which "looked like a magical spider-web of metal and glass"), where they will appreciate how for travelers of the era the terminal "was a magical experience." That, of course, makes the depiction of the grand station's 1963 demolition all the sadder. Yet Low concludes on a heartening note, observing that public outrage at Penn Station's razing led to the founding of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, which has saved other historic buildings—including Grand Central Terminal—from a similar fate. Indeed, Low's effort soundly reinforces his concluding message that buildings are "not just concrete and steel. They are the heart and soul of all great cities." Ages 5-9.

April 1, 2007
Gr 3-6-Once upon a time, the railroad was the way to travel, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company was one of the best in the business. Blocked from reaching its Manhattan goal by the depths of the Hudson River, and with a bravado showing just what money can do, the company hired workers to tunnel under and an architectural firm to build the then-grandest railroad depot goingPennsylvania Station. In this heavily pictorial, slim volume, Low's lyrical text and handsome illustrations pay tribute to an imposing piece of American architecture, describing its cultural impact both in its existence and its destruction. This book opens a nostalgic window into its magical vastness, and mourns its lossreduced to rubble dumped into the nearby Jersey marshes. Similar in tone to Harvey Stevenson's equally attractive "Looking at Liberty" (HarperCollins, 2003), Low's compassionate pen and artistic eye may have children taking second, assessing looks at "old" buildings headed for the wrecker's ball. An enlivening addition to the usually somnolent 385.3's."Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2007
As in " Chinatown" (1997), Low contributes both words and pictures in this ode to New York City's Pennsylvania Station. Introductory pages describe why and how the glorious train station was erected. Later spreads focus on how the building was utilized before it fell into disuse and was finally demolished to make way for the smaller, subterranean station used today. Low includes lots of specifics (the name of the firm that designed the station; the amount of granite used for the project), but the details aren't always integrated into a captivating whole. The artwork, however, is magnificent. Full-spread, oil-and-digital, mixed-media paintings depicting people moving through the beautiful structure will draw children into Low's underlying message: "Buildings are not just concrete and steel. They are the heart and soul of all great cities." Teachers will welcome the classroom connections in the companion guide, which isavailable on the publisher's Web site. Pair this with Susan Goodman's " Skyscraper "(2004) and Lynn Curlee's " Skyscraper" (2007) for more about the structures that make up a city.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)