Skyscrapers

Over centuries and across cultures people have defied gravity in a quest to build the tallest, grandest structures imaginable.

Skyscrapers: Investigate Feats of Engineering with 25 Projects invites children ages 9 and up to explore the innovation and physical science behind these towering structures. Trivia and fun facts illustrate engineering ingenuity and achievements from the ancient pyramids to the Empire State Building. Readers will develop an understanding of how our modern, sophisticated building techniques and materials evolved over time.

Activities and projects encourage children to explore the engineering design process. They will engage in hands-on explorations of wind, test Newton's laws of motion, and experiment with the strength of different shapes. In the process they will learn about gravity, inertia, oscillation, and static electricity. Using various materials and engaging in trial and error, readers will construct their own towers and skyscrapers. Skyscrapers meets common core state standards in language arts for reading informational text and literary nonfiction and is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.

Donna Latham is an award-winning author and playwright. She is the author of Bridges and Tunnels: Investigate Feats of Engineering, Canals and Dams: Investigate Feats of Engineering, Amazing Biome Projects You Can Build Yourself, Backyard Biology: Investigate Habitats Outside Your Door With 25 Projects, and Garbage: Investigate What Happens When You Throw It Out With 25 Projects. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Society of Midland Authors. Donna lives in Batavia, Illinois.

Andrew Christensen is the illustrator of Canals and Dams and an art director at a hobby game company. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.