Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction (by David Macaulay)

Imagine hoisting stone, timber, bronze bells, glass, sculptures, and carvings 160 feet or more above the ground. Imagine building a cathedral whose vaulted spaces mimic the curve of the sky. CATHEDRAL takes readers back to a time when an entire community, using ingeniously simple tools, could create something so strong and beautiful that it might stand forever. David Macaulay brings the process to life, and in doing so he also animates a long-ago culture.

For children who are making the transition from "Wow, look at that!" to "How did they do that?" this book introduces a world where crafted miracles such as a cathedral come about through planning, precision, hard work, and inventiveness. It proves that what 13th-century people lacked in equipment and tools, they made up for in ingenuity. Children, who have more wit than strength, will love discovering secrets that trade brawn for inventiveness.