Great Building Stories of the Past [Hardcover]

Peter Kent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2002 | Age Level: 9 and up

Great Building Stories of the Past recounts the fascinating histories of nine of the world's greatest architectural achievements, from the 2.3 million blocks of white limestone used in Egypt's Great Pyramid to Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport, so vast it can be seen from space. Captivating full-color drawings detailing the idea, construction, and final outcome illustrate the incredible stories of how and why the Great Wall of China was built, the revolutionary building techniques of the Woolworth Building and the Brooklyn Bridge, and how a continent was actually split in two to build the Panama Canal. In Great Building Stories of the Past, these amazing structures and more stand as glorious testaments to humankind's incredible possibilities.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Great Building Stories of the Past by Peter Kent explains the history and construction techniques behind such marvels as the Great Wall of China, the Brooklyn Bridge and Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport. Illustrations and graphs provide illuminating details. Index included.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-This well-researched book spotlights architectural feats and explains the purpose of the building and the engineering involved. Kent includes the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Great Wall of China, Beauvais Cathedral, Eddystone Lighthouse, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, the Panama Canal, the Woolworth Building, and Chek Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong harbor. The inset drawings explain complex architectural details in straightforward text. Many of the illustrations use human figures to show scale and provide length and width measurements of cross-sections. While describing complicated ideas, the text remains clear and well written. Many libraries may own books on some of the structures covered here, but it's helpful to have so many in one volume, especially when the illustrations and text are so well done.
Barbara Buckley, Rockville Centre Public Library, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195218469
• ISBN-13: 978-0195218466
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,202,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New View of History, August 24, 2003

By 

L. A. Robinson "lauriedefresno" (California) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Great Building Stories of the Past (Hardcover)

My six year old son returns to this book again and again. He loves to look at the pictures of famous building projects throughout history and I love to use the book as a read-aloud to introduce him to various ancient and modern civilizations. For parents of budding, architects, engineers or construction workers, this book is a great jumping off point to teaching about ancient Egypt, ancient China, medieval Europe, etc. As with all books published by Oxford University Press this book presents a great deal of factual information and a judicious use of quality illustrations. This book would make a great present for an interested young person and will not disappoint.