Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers

by Gregor Craigie, Kathleen Fu (Illustrator)

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Childrens

96 pages, Hardcover

Published September 13, 2022

Reviews

[Julia MacPherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not realize this was a kids book when I borrowed it on Libby but enjoyed it and went on some nice Google dives because of it.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history and architecture!

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic and detailed nonfiction picture book for children ages 9-12 -- great for children interested in architecture or general STEM topics. I love that the book incorporates illustrations as well as real photos to show the variety of structures. It's a nicely organized book that also contains an index and glossary.

The book is divided into eleven chapters and each chapter poses an answer to the question "Why do humans build up?" Topics like security, spirituality, ingenuity, beauty, efficiency, and more are explored. Buildings and structures are featured from ancient times to modern and from all around the world. I appreciate all the attention to detail and that this book presents architecture for kids in a unique format. The style is modern and detailed but presents the content in a streamlined and thoughtful design. There is a lot to explore that will keep children coming back!

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Orca Book Publishers. Opinions are my own.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2024 Hackmatack Award in the English fiction category. The title tells you exactly what to expect from this book, which is information about tall buildings all over the world & across historical eras. There are tons of facts in this book, which is divided into eleven short chapters. I like that it is easy to pick up and put down, and can be digested at whatever pace the reader desires. I also really enjoyed the sidebars (little boxes with additional information). As always, I am a sucker for a non-fiction book with a glossary and a list of resources. The illustrations were eye catching, and I thought it was a good mix of illustrations and photos.
I would recommend this to any kids who like to collect facts, or is interested in STEAM (especially engineering).

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting informational book for upper elementary about tall buildings, how they got started, and why they exist today. Buildings are grouped in threes around a theme, like spirituality, rivalry, or efficiency. A few paragraphs explain each building, with drawings and/or pictures. The structures featured are diverse, both in time period (though, obviously, more modern buildings are present) and in location. I actually learned a lot…like I didn’t know the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of a cathedral!

Only 79 pages plus a glossary and a list of related works, including official websites for many of the structures featured.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written by a Canadian author and a host of CBC in Victoria. The book starts off with a story of the Calgary Tower - a tower we can rarely find anything written about! I love how it is organized: by all the reasons towers are built: security, spirituality, ingenuity, utility, rivalry, beauty, industry, observatories, luxury, efficiency, and sustainability. It is perfect for our structure unit. Very kid friendly

(Introduced to us through the CPL summer reading online event June 2023)

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for the Charlie May Simon Award Committee. It was very dense with TONS of information. It will be interesting for kids interested in architecture but may be long winded for other readers.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Caroline Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative. Got it for my 11yo but I also enjoyed it.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful & informative book! Appealing to both adults & children like, and ties many pertinent topics like sustainability, poverty, and practicality into the topic of architecture and engineering.

[Kass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little read. Really nice illustrations too. A fun little Informative book on the history of architecture.