Construction People

Fourteen poems compiled by award-winning poet and anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins introduce readers to the various construction people who collaborate to create a high-rise hotel building, from architect to crane operator to glaziers and more.

How does an empty lot transform into a new hotel? This anthology begins with a busy construction site, and an architect's (and her daughter's) dreams drawn on blueprint paper. Next, workers with huge machines--backhoes, dump trucks, cement mixers, etc.--roll in. Poems full of noise and action describe every step of the construction process. From welders and carpenters building the skeleton of the building to plumbers and electricians making its insides work, this book celebrates people and equipment working together to build something magnificent.

Lee Bennett Hopkins was a poet and anthologist who Guinness World Records recognized as "the world's most prolific anthologist of poetry for children." In addition, he has been honored with the Christopher Award, the Regina Medal, the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, and the University of Southern Mississippi's Medallion for "lasting contributions to children's literature."

Ellen Shi is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She is the illustrator of Lee Bennett Hopkins's School People and Jane Yolen's Little Frog and the Scary Autumn Thing, among other titles. Visit ellenshi.com