What's Inside?: Fascinating Structures around the World (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: What's Inside?: Fascinating Structures around the World Elizabeth Bush Laroche, Giles What's Inside?: Fascinating Structures around the World; written and illus. by Giles Laroche. Harcourt, 200940p ISBN 978-0-618-86247-4$17.00 R Gr. 3-6 While the titular question and picture-book format suggest a work for primary-schoolers, Laroche deploys the guessing-game structure and fabulously detailed collages to intrigue an older set of readers, particularly those with a budding interest in architecture. He starts off pretty easy, with an archaeologist breaking through the doorway "at the end of a long underground passageway": "What's inside?" Lots of kids will recognize Howard Carter, or at least know there's a mummy tomb on the next page. But how many will correctly guess that there's a jaguar throne inside the stepped pyramid, an entire city beyond a stone gate, or farm animals beneath the "squat wooden cupola" in a round stone building in New England? Even the identifiable structures hold visual surprises, with Laroche providing intricate interiors for each spread and a sidebar of geographical and statistical data for the edifice. A glossary of architectural terms is appended, each with a thumbnail picture of a building sporting that feature, and a partial list of Laroche's sources are included. This is an obvious draw for viewers who delight in fussy, finicky detail, and also an inspiration for kids with scissors, paper, and patience. [End Page 368] Copyright © 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois