Gr 4–6—These four titles cover well-known landmarks from an architectural perspective. Through photos and text, each book includes the structure's history, technology, environmentally friendly features, and a brief biography of the architect. Each book contains an identical page about CAD (computer-aided design). Architectural and construction careers are also mentioned. Each structure is also "measured," giving pertinent weight, height, length, etc., in easy-to-read boxes. The books end with a quiz, a simple activity, illustrations, facts, and a map locating similar "notable structures." Golden Gate Bridge is the strongest of the titles, with jaw-dropping photos, smooth writing, and a clear flow. However, the authors neglected to mention Amadeo Giannini, a prominent financier, without whom the bridge could not have been built. Sears Tower, while interesting and well done, is actually a misnomer as the building's name is now Willis Tower (this is noted in the text). Beijing National Stadium is full of information about the impressive arena; however, it is debatable how much demand there will be for this subject post-Beijing Olympics. The White House is the weakest title. It has a factual error regarding the date of the Revolutionary War, and the photos illustrating the technology used to build the White House are modern and unrepresentative. No sources or bibliographies are provided.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI
