Curious Constructions: A Peculiar Portfolio of Fifty Fascinating Structures

Gr 4–6—There are lots of weird, mysterious, funky, incongruous, and compelling structures in this world—ones that might leave students scratching their heads or staring with their mouths agape. Hearst obviously had a lot of fun compiling this interesting assortment of man-made creations, making great use of wit and puns to enliven the content. For instance, the spread on El Pulpo Mecanico, an enormous traveling metal sculpture by artist Duane Flatmo, begins, "Look out! It's a giant mechanical fire-breathing octopus! What's not to love?" Hearst introduces readers to such edifices as the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea; the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and the Longaberger Building in Newark, OH, revealing curious facts about each. Johnstone's illustrations are detailed and colorful, with a slightly cartoonlike quality. While not glossy or photo-perfect, these attractive images still give readers a sense of the actual structures. Both would-be builders interested in quirky, unusual sights and teachers who want a mentor text that demonstrates how voice and tone can be used to present familiar information in a new light would appreciate this book.