Skyscrapers

November 1, 2013

Gr 3-6-This introduction to the science behind skyscrapers covers engineering feats from the Babylonian ziggurats to Dubai's Burj Khalifa, currently the world's tallest building. Large font and an open layout make this title accessible to reluctant readers. Kids will appreciate the boxed "Words to Know" sections embedded on most pages that highlight new vocabulary. "Did You Know?" sidebars also appear throughout and showcase interesting facts and anecdotes. Simple black-and-white illustrations enhance the narrative and break up the text. The scientific concepts are explained with easy-to-understand and kid-friendly examples. The 25 activities can be easily replicated at home, school, or in a library STEAM program, and require items that can be found at a grocery or hardware store. Projects include creating a step pyramid out of sugar cubes and engineering a skyscraper out of spaghetti noodles and mini marshmallows. Latham adheres to the scientific process and encourages young scientists to make predictions and assess their results along the way. This would be a useful title to supplement lessons on architecture, mathematics, or physics for classroom teachers or homeschoolers, and it's an appealing initiation to the subject.-Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

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