The informational book, Capital by Lynn Curlee was a good book for its illustrations, writing and language. I liked the illustrations because while the illustrations are drawings, they are very accurate to the real buildings. Accuracy is so important so that young readers understand what the Capital really looks like. Also, showing images like maps and historical people, like George Washington himself, and a map of Washington D.C. There is also diagrams of buildings from the outside and the inside of the building and what their layout is. For example on page 18 and 19 is a vertical picture of the U.S. Capitol Cross Section of The Dome which was designed by Thomas Ustick Walter. The image points to different features worth knowing about the architecture of the dome. I also appreciated this book for its writing because each new chapter starts off with a quote from a historical figure, such as George Washington and then the first few words of the page are in big print to engage and hook the reader. For example, on page 27, the quote reads “”First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.””-Henry Lee. Then the paragraph starts out as “GEORGE WASHINGTON HAD BEEN THE triumphant general of the Revolutionary War, and he was certainly the most charismatic statesman of his time”. I liked how the author chose to keep their readers engaged. I also enjoyed the language of this book because it was very descriptive and engaging. It corresponds with the pictures as well. For example, the first page, uses the most descriptive language of what the Monument looks like: “IT IS A PURE GEOMETRICAL form, an immense unadorned tapering marble shaft as tall as fifty-story skyscraper.” I loved this quote because of the imagery it involves. The big message of this story is to inform reader about the Capital and all of the buildings involved, like the White House and the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

I felt that this was a great way to introduce students to our nation's capital. The illustrations are very realistic and very well done. It is a very comprehensive history of our nation's capital and I absolutely thought it was great. ( )

Capital describes the building of The White House, The Washington Monument, The Lincoln Memorial, The Jefferson Memorial, and the Capital Building.

Curlee starts by describing the founding of DC. It was not be in a state, but separate belonging to all states. L'Enfant designed a grid of streets radiating from key buildings that can still be seen today. There were architiectual contests to choose the designs of each building. Thorton, an ametaur, won the contest to design the capital. Hoban's design for the president's mansion won, even beating Thomas Jefferson's entry. The construction was started, but then was destroyed during the War of 1812. Some wanted to move the capital, but it was decided that rebuilding it in the same spot would be more triumphant. It was finished in the 1850s.

Next, Curlee describes the construction of the White House, originally called the President's Mansion. Many presidents lived in the house while it was being build and added to it. It was only during the presidency of JFK that first ladies began to curate furniture and artwork of past presidents to adorn the White House. The exterior walls are all that remain of the original structure.

In 1832, the Washington Monument was designed and built. The spot was originally intended for an equestrian monument. Building the monument was extremely slow but sped up when states began donating supplies instead of money. The mall slowly grew around the national monument.

After Lincoln was assignated, a memorial was designed and built. The memorial was based on the Parthenon. It is intended to make the viewer feel somber. Curlee states, " Here, we seem to be at the heart of America's conscious.

The books concludes with building the Jefferson Memorial.

I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to. Curlee's painting give the monuments live and emotions. The narrative is enjoyable and engaging.

This book would be an excellent addition to a unit on civics. I think it would be an excellent read aloud book. ( )