Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper

by Anastasia Suen, Ryan O'Rourke (Illustrator)

Snappy rhymes invite young readers to watch workers dig, pour, pound, and bolt a skyscraper into existence. Simple yet satisfying sidebars provide further information about each step in the construction process. Perfect for preschoolers and all those who dig diggers.

Quirky, colorful art enhance the appeal of a construction site with all the equipment and sounds of building.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Construction, Stem, Storytime, Childrens, Transport

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2017

About the author

From her studio in Northern California, developmental editor Anastasia Suen reads, writes, and edits books for creators of all ages.

Reviews

[Yuliya Yefimov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Building a skyscraper is not as easy at it seems! This books is an informational book informing children about the process of building a skyscraper. The book takes the reader through a step by step process and explains what happens in each process in a simple way. The text on each page has a bolded text and a non bolded text, this allows the reader to understand that the bolded text is the main process happening when building a skyscraper, while the non bolded text goes into more detail about the main process. Additionally, the book labels different supplies and equipment as many children do not know the technical construction terms. The pictures in the book scale to to each edge of the book, allowing for a bigger picture and an easier analysis of the details going on with the process of building. The book also does a great job featuring women and people of color in construction as many times this representation is left out when talking about construction. The book ends in a creative and fun way that you will have to find out for yourself!

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for curious kids big and small who may wonder how a skyscraper is built. Each phase of construction is given its own two page spread to explain and explore what is going on with colorful illustrations and a catchy, repetitive refrain scheme for the text that will engage young children. There is also a short prose paragraph to read for more information. Important features of the illustrations are labeled for plenty of construction vocabulary building and a small cutaway thumbnail of the building for each phase shows the process from a more distant and different viewpoint. The final image is a fold out of the entire skyscraper as if you were looking at the new building from the sidewalk.

All of the elements that make a successful read aloud are in evidence here, making this a good choice for both group and one on one reading experiences. The subject matter is handled to both engage what children already know, yet giving them new things to learn as well. Once children learn the refrain scheme, they will certainly ask for more readings to practice what they’ve read. I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library. It works well for read aloud and for new readers as well.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Grace Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! I think it is a great story especially for children who live in urban areas that experience these sights and sounds daily.

[Sara Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiction Twin Text:
Rinker, S. D. (2017). Mighty, mighty construction site. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

Rationale:
Both these texts have rhyming and short passages, making them similar in writing style and audience. These two texts focus on being in a construction site which meets guidance criteria about occupational knowledge. The fiction text has more cartoonish images of trucks with faces as the text follows through a day at the site, appealing to boys and girls alike. The nonfiction text has the rhyming portion, but also provides more detail through captions or sidebars about the construction tools or procedures to provide the extra information about the topic.

Nonfiction Structure and Features:
The structure of this nonfiction text is sequential order. The text follows the building of a skyscraper from the first step to the next including time order words to help students identify the sequence. The features include the sidebars of extra information, illustrations of the concepts, inset diagrams with labels to showcase the growth of the skyscraper, as well as labels on the structure of the building and tools used on the sites.

Strategy:
A nonfiction strategy I would use would be a graphic organizer broken into different parts. I would first have the students make a Venn diagram to compare the fiction text with the nonfiction text to identify similarities and differences. Then I would have them make a sequence chart and fill in at least 5 steps to building a skyscraper in chronological order. I would also have them make a list of terms with their personal definitions, similar to a glossary since this book does not include one. Finally, I would have them write an opinion about whether they would or would not like to work on a construction site, and what they would do if they had the choice, explaining their answers.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid book to build on, however something was missing for me in this one.

Suen's free verse poems use a good deal of repetition of words, making this a potential beginning reader filled with construction words. Each two page spread has a brief explanation of what is being done in the construction of the skyscraper. O'Rourke's illustratons, done using Photoshop, are cheerful and colorful, however are very static in nature. I appreciate that he has labeled many key words and names of things. The small inset illustration on each spread allows for young eyes to see the building as it went up. This might have been made a stronger element if the illustrations were placed one following the other so readers could flip through quickly (ala Dav Pilkey's "flip-o-ramas") to "watch" the tower go up.

Construction lovers will eat this one up.

Gr. PreS-3

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for young building enthusiasts. Not only is there great information about the building of a skyscraper (I learned a lot!), but the combination of rhyming text and expository text make the book appropriate for young listeners and older readers. In fact, I quite enjoyed reading the rhymes out loud, to me that's the best gauge for judging rhymes. I also loved the illustrations which do an excellent job of showing the steps in the construction process. The illustrator also included labels for the different materials and equipment used in the building process. This is a fabulously put together book.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suen, Anastasia Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper, illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc., 2017. $16.99. Content: G.

This non-fiction book shows how a skyscraper is built from the ground up. Younger kids will enjoy the bright, colorful pictures and rhyming text. Older children will be more appreciative of the additional, non-rhyming, more detailed text. With labeled illustrations, children will expand their construction vocabulary and gain a better understanding of all that goes into building a skyscraper.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Nancy W.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

2017 Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Award. Rhythmic rhyming language that will appeal to a young audience while teaching about a topic that is not common in books for kids this age. The topic is refreshing - how to build a skyscraper. Each page includes additional text that describes a particular step in building the skyscraper and there is a diagram on each page that includes labels for the different parts of the skyscraper (trench with rebar, glass panel, curtain wall) - as these parts are added and the machines used (tower crane, concrete mixer, hopper). This book can be read again and again in different ways to learn additional details. Just really, really well done!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful nonfiction picture book about how a skyscraper is made. Three ways to read this: large, simple words give each page an overview in verse, then as a child grows older they can read the smaller, more details descriptions. Finally, each page has a small diagram showing a cutaway of the progress of the building as it is described. The last page folds up to show the completed skyscraper. For toddlers, preschoolers, and interested early readers. No bibliography, index, citations or further suggested reading in the back, though.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

June 2017 - fantastic detail about how a skyscraper is built (I learned a lot). Fortunately almost every vehicle and construction material is labeled, and there's a little inset picture on each spread that shows the big picture in miniature. I had a few unanswered questions - what on earth happens to that crane? How do they get rid of the dirt ramp after all the dump trucks go up? But it's a huge hit with Ben.

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful rhyming picture book for young children who are curious to know more the about what specific kind of materials, design, and engineering go into making tall buildings and skyscrapers. Recommended for preschool thru 1st grade. Reviewed by: Miss Alyson, Youth Services, Vernon Area Public Library

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one can be made interactive if you have the kids act out the action words! I read this to elementary age students and some toddlers and both groups loved it! Follow the storytime with a building activity. I provided the kids with our connectors and straws kit and they built their own skyscrapers, magna tiles or legos are other building options.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short rhyming storytime text about construction, paired with slightly longer (but still short) explanations of how a skyscraper is built great for Preschool-K and kids wanting to learn about construction!

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This makes me long for a little machine buff to share with. Perky illustrations with informative labeling and jaunty couplets join explanatory text to guide the reader through the construction of a skyscraper. I learned quite a bit!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple vocabulary and labels help show the construction of a skyscraper, spending much time with the foundation. Inset pictures showing cross-sections help to further explain what is necessary for such a tall, heavy building.

[emyrose8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can tell this will be a hit with the kiddos who can't get enough of construction trucks. It was interesting to see how a skyscraper is built piece by piece. Cute rhymes, labels on construction stuff, and a little extra information about each step in the building process.

[Molly Emory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great and shows students how a skyscraper is built. The illustrations are colorful and fun. Students will love to learn about how skyscrapers are built and it shows the construction process in steps. It's an enjoyable and great book for young kids and older kids.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for little budding engineers.

[Casandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and well-illustrated. A bit boring, though...

[Janis Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the easy flow of the story coupled with the integrated "vocabulary" words. My childhood self would be all over that lol.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan summer reading 2017, children's book, nonfiction, non-fiction, buildings, engineering, construction, skyscraper, first grade, second grade, third grade,

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the opportunity to expand this for older kids (or for super interested kids)

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story in rhyme describes how a skyscraper is made. It is a popular subject for young children. It has nice pictures.

[Kristy McRae · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kiddos needed to read non-fiction for a summer library bingo game....while this book does a great job for the very young children, it was a little too young for my kiddos! Still, a cute book.

[ErinTheLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

picture book format. fine for storytime.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for everyone who wonders how skyscrapers are built!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good mix of rhyming and information about building a skyscraper. Large print for young kids, inset showing the steps being added along the way, fold out skyscraper at end.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Construction loving kids will enjoy seeing how a tall building is built frame by frame. I learned that I don't want to be the person wearing the safety harness all the way up there.

[Nancy Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book showing step by step, layer by layer, how to build a skyscraper. Excellent terms and vocabulary illustrated. Construction/building theme.

[Cheryl Gladfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice look at building a building from start to end. Has a picture in picture so you can see how it looks from the side. Really helpful.