Books by Lynn Curlee

Ballpark: The Story of America's Baseball Fields

by Lynn Curlee

If you love baseball, chances are you love one particular ballpark. Boston fans wax poetic about Fenway Park. Cubs fans are adamant that Wrigley Field is the classic ballfield. Busch Stadium is a hit with folks from Missouri, and Yankee fans are passionate about the House That Ruth Built....
Besides passionate fans, there's one other thing all ballparks -- from the Union Grounds in Brooklyn built in 1862 to the Baltimore Oriole's Camden Yards built in 1992 -- have in common: Each has its own vibrant and unique history.
In Ballpark, Sibert Honor Award winner Lynn Curlee explores both the histories and the cultural significances of America's most famous ballparks. Grand in scope and illustrations, and filled with nifty anecdotes about these "green cathedrals," Ballpark also explores the changing social climate that accompanied baseball's rise from a minor sport to the national pastime. This is a baseball book like no other.

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Ballpark: The Story of America's Baseball Fields

by Lynn Curlee

If you love baseball, chances are you love one particular ballpark. Boston fans wax poetic about Fenway Park. Cubs fans are adamant that Wrigley Field is the classic ballfield. Busch Stadium is a hit with folks from Missouri, and Yankee fans are passionate about the House That Ruth Built....
Besides passionate fans, there's one other thing all ballparks -- from the Union Grounds in Brooklyn built in 1862 to the Baltimore Oriole's Camden Yards built in 1992 -- have in common: Each has its own vibrant and unique history.
In Ballpark, Sibert Honor Award winner Lynn Curlee explores both the histories and the cultural significances of America's most famous ballparks. Grand in scope and illustrations, and filled with nifty anecdotes about these "green cathedrals," Ballpark also explores the changing social climate that accompanied baseball's rise from a minor sport to the national pastime. This is a baseball book like no other.

Copies

No copies available.

Skyscraper

by Susan E. Goodman, Michael Doolittle, Lynn Curlee

IT ALL STARTS with a vision of a building so high it will catch the clouds. . . .

From that first vision, through the planning, digging, welding, fitting, and decorating, Skyscraper shows how a very tall building is constructed in a very narrow space. Author Susan Goodman and photographer Michael Doolittle spent several years documenting the building of a New York City skyscraper. They have distilled hundreds of photographs and hours of interviews and research into this lively and accessible book for construction fans of all ages.

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Skyscraper

by Susan E. Goodman, Michael Doolittle, Lynn Curlee

Did you know that it took ten million bricks to build the Empire State Building?

Did you know that residents of the John Hancock Center sometimes have to call down to the doorman to find out the weather on the streets below?

Did you know a building in Dubai is planned to be nearly one half mile high?

In Skyscraper, Lynn Curlee delves into one of man's endless fascinations -- building as high in the sky as possible.

From the the Empire State Building to the Chrysler Building, to the Sears and Hancock Towers, to the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, to the World Trade Center, Curlee captures all the drama, excitement, and tragedy of man's attempt to reach ever closer to the clouds. Skyscraper details the history of these monuments to ambition, science, and curiosity, beginning with their origins at the Pyramid of Giza and the Eiffel Tower and then moving to New York (the skyscraper capital of the world), Chicago, Boston, and finally to the skyward expansion that is spreading across the globe.

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Skyscraper

by Susan E. Goodman, Michael Doolittle, Lynn Curlee

The stunning visual history of the rise of the skyscraper in the United States and around the world told with “dramatic paintings and lucid prose” (School Library Journal) from award-winning author-illustrator Lynn Curlee—now with a new look!

Did you know that it took ten million bricks to build the Empire State Building? Or that residents of the John Hancock Center sometimes have to call down to the doorman to find out the weather on the streets below? Or that a building in Dubai is nearly one half-mile high?

First erected in Chicago and New York, skyscrapers can be found all over America and have been expanding skyward all over the globe. From the Empire State Building to the Chrysler Building, to the Sears and Hancock Towers, to the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, to the former World Trade Center, this book captures all the drama, excitement, and tragedy of humanity’s attempt to reach ever closer to the clouds.

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Parthenon

by Lynn Curlee

The Parthenon. It was ravaged by the early Christians, occupied by the Turks, and looted by the British. Wars were fought all around it. Plato and Socrates, Phidias and Pericles contemplated philosophy, art, drama, and democracy on its steps. And today its proud, ruined columns stand high above the city of Athens, Greece, the last sentinels of what's often considered to be the most important architectural achievement in the world. The Parthenon is without rival in regard to its beauty, purity of design, and tumultuous history. It grew out of war and strife, political uprisings and financial difficulties, and remains a symbol of what humanity -- at its very best -- is capable of accomplishing.
Lynn Curlee, who won a Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book award for Brooklyn Bridge, explores the tremendous history behind one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, the Parthenon.

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Parthenon

by Lynn Curlee

Award-winning author-illustrator Lynn Curlee explores the tremendous history behind one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, the Parthenon, in this “meticulous” (Kirkus Reviews) nonfiction picture book—now with a new look!

The Parthenon. It was ravaged by the early Christians, occupied by the Turks, and looted by the British. Wars were fought all around it. Plato, Socrates, Phidias, and Pericles contemplated philosophy, art, drama, and democracy on its steps. And today, its proud, ruined columns stand high above the city of Athens, Greece, the last sentinels of what’s often considered to be the most important architectural achievement in the world.

The Parthenon is without rival in its beauty, purity of design, and tumultuous history. It grew out of war and strife, political uprisings, and financial difficulties, yet remains a symbol of what humanity—at its very best—is capable of accomplishing.

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Trains

by Lynn Curlee, Gail Gibbons

Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack. Choo, choo! Race down the tracks with this colorful book all about trains.

In this fun nonfiction picture book, Gail Gibbons introduces the youngest readers to all kinds of trains.

Featuring powerful locomotives, huge tanker cars, and boxcars full of cargo-- and many other types of trains-- this is a kid-friendly way to learn the ins and outs of trains, their parts, and why we ride them.

For even young readers, don't miss the board book edition!

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Trains

by Lynn Curlee, Gail Gibbons

From steam engines to diesel engines and box cars to sleeper cars, a ride on Lynn Curlee’s Trains is about as close as most kids can hope to get to the Japanese bullet train or the inner workings of steam power. This book’s bold, graphic acrylic paintings are a perfect match for sleek, modern engines; dark, dirty locomotives; and the sprawling landscapes of the countryside. Thoroughly researched and very kid-friendly, Trains tells the history of the railroad, and in doing so, the history of America. This stunning book is one part history, one part art gallery, and a truly terrific ride!

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Trains

by Lynn Curlee, Gail Gibbons

Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack. Choo, choo! Race down the tracks with this colorful board book all about trains.

In this fun nonfiction board book, Gail Gibbons introduces the youngest readers to all kinds of trains. Featuring powerful locomotives, huge tanker cars, and boxcars full of cargo-- and many other types of trains-- this is a kid-friendly way to learn the ins and outs of trains, their parts, and why we ride them.

Don't miss Gail Gibbons' other exciting board book transportation titles, including Bicycles, Planes, and Trucks!

Acclaimed nonfiction author Gail Gibbons "has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator" according to The Washington Post. These accessible, kid-friendly introductions to the world around us are now available in board-book form, simplified and formatted for the youngest readers and designed to spark their curiosity.

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Trains

by Lynn Curlee, Gail Gibbons

"There are few things more exciting than the sound of a train chugging through the country-side. First, steam engines hissed billowing clouds into the air, then gleaming diesel locomotives pulled boxcars, freight cars, and sleek passenger cars north, south, east, and west. A symbol of adventure and possibility, trains have been getting people and things to where they need to go for almost two centuries! The story of how trains began barreling across the landscape is one of new machines, new inventions, new jobs, and new hopes. Railroad travel started with steam-powered wagons on a tramway and developed into a technology that would change the day-to-day life of Americans in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries-and forever connect one coast to another. This bold and graphic look at trains and railroads by award-winning author and illustrator Lynn Curlee traces the tracks back to where they began. All aboard!"--

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The Great Nijinsky: God of Dance

by Lynn Curlee

A tragic story of a cultural icon—dance prodigy, sex symbol, LGBTQ+ pioneer—this compelling work of narrative nonfiction chronicles a life of obsessive artistry and celebrity of Vaslav Nijinsky.

With one grand leap off the stage at the 1909 premiere of the Ballets Russes's inaugural season, Nijinsky became an overnight sensation and the century's first superstar, in the days before moving pictures brought popular culture to the masses. Perhaps the greatest dancer of the twentieth century, Nijinsky captured audiences with his sheer animal magnetism and incredible skill.

He was also half of the most famous (and openly gay) couple of the Edwardian era: his relationship with Serge Diaghilev, artistic director and architect of the Ballets Russes, pushed boundaries in a time when homosexuality and bisexuality were rarely discussed. Nijinsky's life was tumultuous--after marrying a female groupie he hardly knew, he was kicked out of the Ballets Russes and placed under house arrest during World War I. Unable to work as he once did, his mental health deteriorated, and he spent three decades in and out of institutions.

Biographical narrative is interspersed with spotlights on the ballets the dancer popularized: classic masterworks such as Afternoon of a Faun, The Firebird, and of course, the shockingly original Rite of Spring, which caused the audience to riot at its premiere. Illustrated with elegant, intimate portraits as well as archival art and photographs.

Copies

No copies available.

Ballpark The Story of America's Baseball Fields

by Lynn Curlee

A vibrant visual history of America’s most famous ballparks from award-winning author-illustrator Lynn Curlee—now with a new look!

If you love baseball, chances are you love one particular ballpark. Boston fans wax poetic about Fenway Park, Cubs fans are adamant that Wrigley Field is the classic ballfield. Busch Stadium is a hit with folks from Missouri, and Yankee fans are passionate about the House That Ruth Built. Besides passionate fans, there’s one other thing all ballparks—from the Union Grounds in Brooklyn built in 1862 to the Baltimore Orioles’ Camden Yards built in 1992—share: having its own vibrant and unique history.

This baseball book like no other explores both the histories and the cultural significance of America’s most famous ballparks. Grand in scope and illustrations and filled with fascinating anecdotes about these “green cathedrals,” the picture book also explores the changing social climate that accompanied baseball’s rise from a minor sport to the national pastime.

Copies

No copies available.

Brooklyn Bridge

by Lynn Curlee

Award-winning author-illustrator Lynn Curlee’s “wonderful picture book” (School Library Journal) offers a compelling visual history of the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Brooklyn Bridge—now with a new look!

“It so happens that the work which is likely to be our most durable monument, and to convey some knowledge of us to the most remote posterity, is a work of bare utility; not a shrine, not a fortress, but a bridge.”

So wrote one architectural critic of the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the grandest and most eloquent monuments to the American spirit ever produced. Beneath the Brooklyn Bridge’s triumphant arches lie astonishing tales of loss, deception, genius, and daring. Over the fourteen-year course of its construction, there was an underwater fire, fraud, and many deaths, including that of designer and chief engineer, John A. Roebling.

When the bridge was finished, as part of the opening day festivities, the president, and two mayors crossed it. Its magnificent site, breathtaking span, cutting-edge technology, and sheer beauty have made it the subject of poems, paintings, photographs, novels, plays, and movies.

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Capital

by Lynn Curlee

Explore the history of the capital city of the United States and its construction in this “stirring…thoughtful” (School Library Journal) nonfiction picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Lynn Curlee—now with a new look!

The White House. The Washington Monument. The Lincoln Memorial. The Jefferson Memorial. The Capitol building.

These structures define and glorify our nation’s history and stand today as towering symbols of architectural achievement. However, the moving and awe-inspiring tale behind their construction is often left untold.

This book explores the forces behind, and the people working for, the creation of these monuments, detailing the brilliance, agony, and creative spirit that went into them—revitalizing the history of Washington, DC, and the growth of a nation.

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Liberty

by Lynn Curlee

Award-winning author-illustrator Lynn Curlee’s “exquisitely detailed…reverent, absorbing homage” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) to the Statue of Liberty—now with a new look!

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

These famous words mark the pedestal of the most colossal metal statue ever made, and perhaps the most famous and beloved sculpture in the world: the Statue of Liberty. Lifting her torch high above the waters of New York Harbor, Lady Liberty has welcomed generations of people seeking freedom and a better way of life in America.

This book traces the evolution of the statue’s design and details the monumental feat of its construction, from the commissioning of the French sculptor who designed the giant statue to its assembly in puzzle-like copper segments suspended from a system of iron girders. On a cloudy day in 1886, Lady Liberty’s face was unveiled at last. And in 1986, for the occasion of her centennial celebration, she was treated to an extensive renovation, so that the light of Liberty might continue to enlighten the world.

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Mythological Creatures A Classical Bestiary

by Lynn Curlee

"Tales about proud gods and goddesses, fabulous creatures, ferocious beasts, and brave heroes from the world of Greek mythology have captured the imaginations of readers, young and old, for centuries. Now see them brought to life like never before, as award-winning author and artist Lynn Curlee turns his brush to a subject that is unlike any other to create a work of boundless creativity and beauty. From the fierce Chimera, who is part lion, goat, and serpent; to the magnificent Phoenix that rises from its own ashes; to the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece; to the legend of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa; to the noble winged horse, Pegasus; to Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog of Hades, Mr. Curlee explores the characters of the myths and legends that have been told and retold for thousands of years. Mythological Creatures brings to life a world where lowly mortals can either be favored or destroyed by powerful gods and goddesses and where kings and queens must bow down before Zeus and his brethren. It is a place where nymphs and centaurs roam to the music of Pan's flute and the hungry Cyclops and Minotaur lurk in the shadows -- a magical place of love, danger, and imagination"--

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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

by Lynn Curlee

With extraordinary paintings and a moving narrative, award-winning author illustrator Lynn Curlee tells the story of some of humankind’s greatest feats and explores a timeless desire of countless civilizations: to leave a permanent mark on the Earth—now with a new look!

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Colossus of Rhodes. The Great Pyramid at Giza.

For centuries, these names have inspired wonder and mystery. They are but three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This book investigates and illustrates how they must have appeared at their peak, pondering the questions that have fascinated researchers and archaeologists for decades: What purpose did these structures have for the societies that built them? How did they achieve the means necessary to construct such intricate and innovative temples and statues?

Most of these masterpieces of human achievement have long since crumbled into dust. But their legacy survives, and these triumphs of human vision, architecture, and creativity have become the stuff of legends.

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