TOWERS REACH HIGH

In this photo essay in the new Building Block series, Hill capitalizes on children's natural fascination with high places and tall buildings, and acquaints them with a variety of engineering feats in the form of towers. Brief text paired with each photo simply instructs young readers in the purpose of towers: A water tower holds water, a silo stores grain, a windmill catches the wind, a communications tower sends messages. Famous towers such as the Sears Tower, Eiffel Tower and Space Needle are mentioned alongside less- familiar fire towers, cranes, lookouts, and bell towers. Hill encourages interest in structure and architecture by addressing readers directly and asking questions: ``Have you ever picked up a full bucket?'' helps readers understand the strength required of water towers. The full-color photos of buildings are cleverly juxtaposed with a scene of a girl constructing her own toy tower. A photo index at the back of the book identifies each tower and adds a brief fact. Towers around the world share the sky with birds; Hill's book invites all eyes to gaze up and imagine. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-9)