From Mud Huts to Skyscrapers

by Christine Paxmann, Anne Ibelings (Illustrator)

Children will be utterly absorbed by this journey through the history of architecture, from the earliest mud huts to today’s soaring towers. Chronologically arranged, this large-format book gives each iconic building its own double-page spread featuring an exquisite watercolor illustration and clearly written descriptions, facts, and features. These vibrantly detailed pages are filled with people, animals, and other objects that help bring the buildings to life. A detailed appendix includes a timeline, a world map that points out where each building can be found, and an extensive glossary. Children will enjoy poring over this book—and will come away with a fundamental understanding of not only the most common architectural terms, but also of how the built world has evolved marvelously over time.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Art, Picture Books, History, Childrens, Middle Grade

64 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2012

About the author

Christine Paxmann‘s life revolves around books – she writes, illustrates, designs everything that goes in between two book covers and kindles her interest. She has already written and published numerous children’s books and books on nature topics. She lives in Munich.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great introduction to the variety of architectural styles spanning from before 10,000 B.C. to modern times. Each period includes a brief description of the characteristics of that style, an illustration of an example of a building created in that style and then numbered information corresponding to the illustration to give further detail about characteristics and features of that building and/or style. It's not really a book to read in one sitting, but even for someone that isn't that interested in architecture, it held my attention.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-designed book full of interesting architecture facts.
Shoutout to Anne Ibelings for the illustrations.
I especially liked the last few pages, where they profile "Hundertwasser's Hill Houses," Deconstructivism, "The World's Largest Bird's Nest," and blobitecture.

I learned some things and enjoyed it, and this book (paired with The World is Not a Rectangle) was on my shortlist for taking out to elementary schools in spring 2018.
Inched out by other titles, but meritorious, nonetheless.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea why I love architecture so much. I will blame it on a project assigned in junior high about Roman columns. Anyway, This was a very nicely done book that takes you from Egyptians pryamids to modern day eco-architects with beautiful water color drawings. From that I jumped on the computer to see photos and even videos of some of these interesting places, wishing I could see them in person, but loving the fact that the internet allows me to visit. I was fascinated by the Hunderwasser's Hill Houses and Blobitecture. I wonder how these structures will stand the test of time.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, nicely drawn illustrations, mostly focused on a western-centric focus. Very little about mud huts.
https://www.citymetric.com/skylines/y...

[Nicole Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so interesting, and even my seven-year-old enjoyed learning about it. Sometimes it got long winded and couldn't keep his attention, though. It was long enough that it took us a few weeks to finish it, with reading a page or two per day.

[Zoe Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant contrast between the olden day architectural and modern day buildings.
It’s all about architecture.

[Whole And · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT resource for children to learn about architecture throughout history and in different parts of the world. A LARGE book to really captivate the readers and demonstrate the glory of all kinds of structures. Simply a lovely book to learn from.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: 3rd-7th grade
Nonfiction: Architecture

Starting with structures built before 10,000 B.C., Paxmann provides kids with a tremendous introduction to architectural styles, focusing primarily on 1900-modern day. This might be better suited for free reading, but Paxmann infuses her text with popular figureheads, terminology, and figures without becoming too academic. The illustrations are also sublime sometimes providing people for scale (although the Baroque period people are definitely not to scale, probably to show off their fancy clothes), and detail highlighted by the use of color and shading. Speaking of color, this book definitely brings a vibrancy to the black and white blueprint books found in kid's architecture.

[Matthew Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you walk into our home you are greeted with a large painting of Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia. The image of La Sagrada on the front of this book is what initially caught my eye while perusing books with my son in the Youth section of the library. The pleasant surprise is that this volume is not only a great education tool for older elementary aged kids; but it's also a great refresher for those, like myself, with a passing interest in architecture. The illustrations were great. The explanations were just enough out of reach to challenge a 5th grader; and just adult enough to provide stimulating fodder for the teacher or parent passing on the information. Paxmann covers a lot of ground from mud huts to Greeks to Baroque to Bauhaus to skyscrapers to computer-aided architectural wonders.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, terrific book, a one-volume introduction to architecture. The illustrations are splendid. The section on 20th and 21st century architecture is very strong with the Chrysler building, The Bauhaus, Ronchamp, Guggenheim, Sydney Opera House, Hundertwasser's Hill Houses, Guggenheim Bilbao, and the Kunsthaus Graz in Austria. The details are engrossing.

Middle school nonfiction, suitable for older children and adults as well. A real treasure,books on architecture for youth are difficult to find.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best book on architecture written for children that I've ever seen. This would be a great introduction to architectural history even for a curious adult. Paxmann does a good job in her selection of buildings. Her artistic and technical explanations aren't "dumbed down" but are still understandable. I also liked her illustrations and her inclusion of interesting facts that would appeal to kids. Loved this book!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Architecture is a visible chronicle of human history. In this large-format book 25 iconic buildings and periods are illuminated. Intricate watercolors and precise yet accessible text describe the structures and the people and cultures that created them, taking the reader on a journey through time. A timeline with thumbnails and a glossary are included.

[Librariansteph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for architecture books and this is a gorgeous one.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this may have taken me eons to finish but that's because it was so cool I kept wanting to stop and google the real structures.

[Emm Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

really a great history of architecture primer for kids who like to build stuff.... we loved it.