Graham, Ian. You Wouldn’t Want to be a Hoover Dam.

Graham, Ian.      You Wouldn’t Want to be a Hoover Dam.     Scholastic/ Watts 32p   $26.10      978-0-531-20873-7       elem            Series: You Wouldn't Want to Be (Scholastic/Watts)               

This book, a history with a healthy dose of humor, describes the hazards of being one of the many construction workers who built the Hoover Dam.  It is presented through the eyes of a hopeful laborer during the Great Depression, and it teaches readers about the events that led to the creation of the dam, and about the people who built it.  Students might not ordinarily find a book on architecture, history, or construction appealing -- not even one on the Hoover Dam, a concrete arch-gravity dam that is the largest producer of hydroelectric power in the world.  However, with an engaging text, humorous sidebars, and clever comic-style illustrations, this book makes the topic both interesting and readable.

The slender volume describes the many hazards workers faced during construction, including tough living conditions, heights, and the arduous task of diverting a river.  The book provides an excellent springboard for discussion and is an appealing, interactive addition for most school and public library collections.          --  Hilary Welliver