Gargoyles, Girders & Glass Houses [Hardcover]

Bo Zaunders (Author), Roxie Munro (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 22, 2004 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

This superb picture book tribute to seven of history's most celebrated architectural wonder-workers takes readers from the domes of Florence to the mosques of Turkey, from the Eiffel Tower to the Chrysler Building. Stunning illustrations and lively text evoke the passion and genius of builders whose inspiring work spans five centuries and six countries.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-7–The works of seven master builders come to life in this attractive introduction to architecture. Featured structures include the Eiffel Tower, the mosques of Mimar Koca Sinan in Turkey, and the varied works of Brazil's O Aleijadinho. Zaunders opens each chapter with a significant scene from the individual's career, followed by historical and architectural background. The focus of each section varies, reflecting the diverse projects. The one on the Brooklyn Bridge, for example, mostly describes the physical challenges of the construction, along with the efforts of the three Roebling family members who saw it through to completion. In the chapter on Antoni Gaudi, more emphasis is placed on the man's life and the inventive artistic qualities he brought to his work. Munro's captivating artwork provides clear visual reference without overwhelming viewers with busyness. The illustrations range from large paintings to smaller images adorning the edges of the pages. They convey both the grandeur and the subtle details described in the text. The skyward view of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, for instance, shows its sheer size, but also notes the intricate workings of the hoist needed to build the dome, along with the oxen supplying the power. Other titles may cover more buildings or dig further into the mechanics of construction, but this is an engaging first look at the glories of structural design.–Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. The husband-and-wife team who introduced amateur explorers in Crocodiles, Camels & Dugout Canoes: Eight Adventurous Episodes (1998) and aviation history in Feathers, Flaps & Flops: Fabulous Early Fliers (2001) looks at notable architectural and engineering constructions and their creators. In eight chapters, they tell the stories of Brunelleschi's dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, the mosques of Mimar Koca Sinan, the sculpture and architecture of Brazil's Lisboa, the Roeblings' Brooklyn Bridge, Eiffel's tower in Paris, the buildings of Barcelona's Gaudi, and Van Alen's Chrysler Building in New York City. Zaunders' narrative approach to nonfiction adds an appealing dimension to these artistic and engineering feats. Munro's often-beautiful ink drawings with color washes capture the special qualities of each construction. Her use of unusual perspectives lends drama to many of the compositions, and well-chosen details keep even large projects within the scale of human use and understanding. Going beyond "the usual suspects" in its choice of subjects, this large-format book will be a stimulating addition to children's architecture collections. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1 edition (November 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525472843
• ISBN-13: 978-0525472841
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,420,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A tour of the best of master builders around the world, January 13, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gargoyles, Girders & Glass Houses (Hardcover)

From Florence to Turkey, every civilization holds great building projects and creators, and Bo Zaunders and illustrator Roxie Munro offer a tour of the best of master builders around the world in Gargoyles, Girders & Glass Houses. Kids in grades 3-5 will find each featured building holds a story of its creator, and will find the accounts of building challenges involving.

4.0 out of 5 stars great collection of inspiring master builders, October 17, 2005

By 

amy blevins (san francisco bay area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gargoyles, Girders & Glass Houses (Hardcover)

Readers will be absorbed by the works of seven brilliant and ambitious master builders in this attractive introduction to architecture. Share the highs and lows of notable architects and engineering constructions as you travel through five centuries and six countries. This is a remarkable tribute to the genius and passion behind the Eiffel Tower, the mosques of Turkey's Mimar Koca Sinan, and the varied works of Brazil's O Aleijadinho. Also included are the stories behind Brunelleschi's dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Roeblings' Brooklyn Bridge, the buildings of Barcelona's Gaudi, and Van Alen's Chrysler Building in New York City. With lively prose, Zaunders opens each of the eight chapters with a significant scene from the individual's career, followed by historical and architectural background.

Munro's ink drawings with color washes capture a vivid sense of each structure's unique light, space and feeling. Her exceptional perspective adds drama to many of the compositions, and well-chosen details keep even large projects within the range of our understanding. The edges of the pages contain large paintings and smaller images, which convey both the grandeur and the subtle details described in the text. In example, the skyward view of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore illustrates its sheer size, but also portrays the hoist's intricate workings, along with the oxen supplying the power.

For grades 3-7, this is an engaging first look at the glories of structural design.