Skyscraper

In her spare graphic style, Hurley shows how construction machines work together, on the ground and up high, to build a skyscraper. Single action words describe their roles: a demolition excavator’s job is to “crush,” a dump truck’s job is to “dump,” and a semi truck’s role is to “haul.” Above the street, cranes raise and lower materials and a construction worker stands in a green cherry picker to “place.” Final spreads show the completed skyscraper, a worker washing its high windows, and the skyline of the “city” under full moon. End pages include an illustrated key to the machines with corresponding descriptions: “a luffing-jib crane has a very short counter jib, which allows it to rotate within a narrow radius.” A sophisticated vehicle primer with detailed construction vocabulary. Ages 3–7. [em](Jan.) [/em]