The Panama Canal

Children's Literature

The Panama Canal is one of the most important structures in the world today. It was a tremendous feat of engineering skill. Twenty-thousand people died during its construction; many of these people died from tropical diseases. The slim chapter book is one in a series titled "Great Structures in History." Readers will learn what life in the canal zone was like, how the canal was constructed, and what the Panama Canal is like today. Period photographs reveal life in the canal and provide a look at the people and the awful conditions under which they had to work. Color photographs show the canal today and how the boats move through a series of gates that allow water to raise the boats as they proceed through the canal. Readers will also discover that it took over eleven years and one hundred thousand workers to build this mighty structure at a cost of over $370 billion. The canal opened in 1914 and became the world's most important waterway. End notes include a glossary, resources for further investigation, web sites to visit, an index, and an author's note. This is an excellent resource for the middle school media center. 2005, Thomson Gale, Ages 9 to 12.
—Sue Reichard

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Slim series titles that focus on how and why these early structures were built, construction obstacles, and cultural and practical significance. Restorations, and present conditions and uses are also examined. Information is presented in a straightforward manner with lots of description, but the writing is uneven. The one or two clear, captioned full-color photographs, diagrams, or computer-generated illustrations found on each spread are well placed and will aid understanding. Some descriptions would have benefited from visuals. Dimensions and measurements are given in the inch-pound and metric systems. The basic information is here, but lots of fine books already exist on these subjects. Libraries owning Elizabeth Mann's The Great Wall (2003), The Panama Canal (1998), and The Roman Colosseum (2003, all Mikaya) may not need these titles.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.