13 Buildings Children Should Know

The premise behind 13 Buildings Children Should Know is that kids' fascination with buildings is a natural outgrowth of their curiosity about anything strange, huge, or complex. The book brings together 13 architectural wonders that have intrigued children for years, including Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle, and the Tower of Pisa.

Each building featured in 13 Buildings Children Should Know is pictured in color photographs, cross-sections, and/or ground plans, with timelines tracing the buildings' developments and changes over time.

The text is straightforward, containing fascinating facts about the design, historical use, and construction techniques of each building. For example, the Tower of Pisa continues to lean despite multiple attempts at straightening it, and the Taj Mahal was built as a memorial.

Children can read about pyramids built by men with pulleys, an opera house shaped like a sailboat, and a museum built like a spiral. A more recent architectural wonder featured in the book is the so-called "bird's nest" — Beijing National Stadium, where the 2008 Summer Olympics were held.

All great buildings begin with a vision and a dream — this book may serve as inspiration for the architects of tomorrow. Games, quizzes, drawings, and other activities help heighten interest and increase knowledge about the world's most impressive structures.

Annette Roeder is a practicing architect as well as the author and illustrator of numerous children's books.

Author — Annette Roeder.

Hardcover. 48 pages. 9½" × 11" (24 cm × 28 cm).