Why Humans Build Up

  • Illustrated By: Kathleen Fu
  • Pages:96
  • Publisher:Orca Book Publishers
  • Series: Orca Timeline
  • Themes:architecture, sustainable design, green technology, history of buildings, construction
  •  
  • Available:09/13/2022
  • Lexile:1150L
  • Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient:X
Hardcover
9781459821880
$29.95
EPUB
9781459827189 LICENSE OPTIONS
$22.99

“This great STEAM offering has multiple applications and will be useful for report writers and aspiring architects alike.”—Booklist, starred review

“Finely detailed inside and outside...Broad in scope, perceptively organized, and enriched with fascinating entries.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Why did they build it so high?

People have been constructing tall buildings for thousands of years, for many different reasons. Castle walls kept people safe. Utility towers transmit TV and cell-phone signals. Observatories give people a bird’s-eye view of the world. Beautiful buildings stand out in the crowd. Skyscrapers provide housing for a lot of people. There are some good reasons for building up, and a few bad ones as well.

With a growing global population, we will need more and more space to live, learn and work in. But what does that mean for the health of the planet? Can we do it sustainably? Tall buildings may be part of the answer. From the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Burj Khalifa and the Shanghai Tower, Why Humans Build Up asks why and how we build higher and higher, and what that means for the planet.

★ “Finely detailed inside and outside...Broad in scope, perceptively organized, and enriched with fascinating entries.”
– Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“One of the best of the genre of non-fiction books written to engage and educate readers of all ages...Fu’s colourful drawings add just the right touch of humour to prevent the text from becoming overwhelming…The right book at the right time for critical thinkers of all ages. Highly Recommended.”
– CM: Canadian Review of Materials
★“This great STEAM offering has multiple applications and will be useful for report writers and aspiring architects alike.”
– Booklist, starred review
“Recommended as an asset for both school and public libraries. Students who are ­fascinated by history and architecture will especially enjoy this book.”
– School Library Journal
“Full of fun and interesting facts. It will hook readers, especially aspiring engineers.”
– Time for Kids
“Readers can capture the excitement and awe of humanity’s engineering prowess…Be inspired to see what the future holds in ‘building up’.”
– Children's Literature
“Thoughtful and appealing…A worthwhile and welcome addition to all library and individual connections.”
– Canadian Children's Book News
Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award   | 2024  |  Short-listed
Red Cedar Book Award   | 2024  |  Nominated
CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens, starred review   | 2023  |  Commended
Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction   | 2023  |  Nominated