Canals And Dams

Canals And Dams

Juvenile non fiction
In her Canals And Dams: Invesitgate Feats Of Engineering.
Donna Latham informs us that: "According to the United Nations, every
person on the planet needs 5 to 13 gallons of freshwater every day (20
to 50 liters). People require water for drinking, cooking, and
bathing. Sadly, about 1.1 billion people on Earth lack access to
freshwater." You might wonder why when there is so much water on the
planet. It isn't always where it's needed though. Getting the fluid
required for life from one place to another has inspired some of the
feats of greatest ingenuity in the history of the human race. That's
what the book is all about.
But it is also so much more. It demystifies engineering for
kids at peak ages for scientific curiosity. Let's face it. A lot of
people, child and adult, hear the word engineer and include not me in
their definition. That includes kids that spontaneously take on
projects like damming up streams that are the heart and soul of
engineering. There are twenty-five hands on projects. They and the
accessible, conversational tone--not to mention the really nifty did
you knows, some of which caught me off guard--neatly tie theoretical
to everyday and lend the profession an aura of I-can-do-this!
If you teach or parent kids between the ages of nine and twelve
you should check the book out. If you like it you can find plenty
more engaging titles at www.nomadpress.net.
On a personal note, I just realized it's not only Adam's 17th
birthday, but also his dad's and my half anniversary. In exactly 6
months we'll hit our quarter century mark.
A great big shout out goes out to the couples I meet who put Eugene
and me to shame in terms of longevity. Last summer I saw a lady and
gentleman walking along holding hands and exchanging loving gazes.
She was the hometown girl he dreamed of coming back to during those
years he was overseas fighting. He was her hero who looked ever so
handsome in his uniform. We're talking World War II, folks. YOWZA!
Julia Emily Hathaway


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