You Wouldn't Want to Work on the Hoover Dam!: An Explosive Job You'd Rather Not Do

by Ian Graham

Experience what it was like to work on the Hoover Dam!This interactive series will enthrall young and reluctant readers (Ages 8-12) by making them part of the story, inviting them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history.In 1920s America, life is hard and many people are out of work. But you have the chance to work on a truly massive building a giant dam that will provide power and water for years to come, and prevent the devastating floods caused by the Colorado River.

Genres: History, American History, Childrens, Nonfiction

Library Binding

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

After working as an in-house journalist and editor in consumer electronics magazines, Ian Graham became a freelance writer. He has written more than 230 illustrated non-fiction books for children and teens, and contributed chapters to books including Dorling Kindersley’s Know it All and Big Ideas that Changed the World. He has a degree in applied physics and a postgraduate diploma in journalism.

Reviews

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This secondary elementary non-fiction picture book describes the history of the Hoover Dam. Author Ian Graham and Illustrator David Antram creatively describe the 1929 crash of the NY Stock exchange and how this event inspired government officials to move forward on a large dam building project that could provide jobs and income for the American people. Laborers from around the country relocated to "Ragtown", NV, just outside of Las Vegas, to become the army of workers needed to construct the Hoover Dam. This picture book traces the history of the dam up until 2010 when the road along the top of the dam was closed because of safety concerns. This was a very creative and engaging way to describe this American monument. There are many other titles in this non-fiction series that I would suggest to classroom teachers for research.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

History presented with a healthy dose of humor.

Students might not ordinarily be intrigued by a book that focuses on the construction of a dam. Not even the Hoover Dam, a concrete arch-gravity dam that is the largest producer of hydroelectric power in the world. However, the engaging text, humorous asides, and clever illustrations make the topic interesting and readable.

Seen through the eyes of a hopeful laborer during the Great Depression, readers learn about the labor force and construction details.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the other books in this series, the book provides a clever insight into a historical period. In this particular case, though, the title doesn't really work. For the men of the period, working on the Hoover Dam was a highly desirable job, even if it was dangerous. About one out of ever 200 workers died on the job of building the dam.
Anyway, the book makes a potentially dry subject very interesting.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, humorous way to present history to students. The cartoon-like illustrations and text follow a construction worker through the process of building the Hoover Dam in the early 1930s. There is even background information about the Crash of '29. This will engage students as they learn. I loved the helpful hints that were added to each page.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great non-fiction book. Has table of contents, glossary, . Wish it had extra resources, great for 5-11 yrs old. Pictures are humorous and informational.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, really interesting.

[Kelly Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visiting the Hoover Dam itself will really show how massive this project was. This book gives a glimpse of how difficult and labor intensive this build really was.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series! This is a great way to interest younger readers in non fiction and history. The fun illustrations and the non overwhelming approach to the subjects will appeal to kids.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read as we just visited the Hoover Dam on our spring break earlier this month.