BTT (#35) ~ a book I like to re-read

Deb @ Booking Through Thursday writes:

"What book(s) do you find yourself going back to?  Beloved children’s classics?  Favorites from college?  Something that touched you and just makes you long to visit?  (Because, doesn’t everybody have at least one book they would like to curl up with, even if they don’t make a habit of rereading books?  Even if they maybe don’t even have the time to visit and just think back longingly?)"

Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction ~ by David Macaulay, 1973, children's

Text and detailed drawings follow the planning and construction of a magnificent Gothic cathedral in the imaginary French town of Chutreaux during the thirteenth century.

This is the title that came immediately to mind when I read this week's question.   I love the illustrations and the history lesson of a time I know relatively little about.  The book, which received a Caldecott Honor Medal, continues to fascinate me.   I took it off the shelf in my bedroom this week to re-read it.  After discovering this topic, I checked my library and put three more of Macaulay's books on hold.

Building the Book Cathedral ~ by David Macaulay, 1999, children's

This book includes the content of Cathedral in its entirety.  Here Macaulay traces the evolution of his creative process in "building" that first book, from the initial concept to the finished drawings.  He introduces the basic elements of structure and sequence and explains why one angle of a drawing may be better for conveying an idea than another.  He also describes how perspective, scale, and contrast can be used to connect a reader with concepts, and how placement of a picture on a page can make a difference in the way information is communicated.

Mosque ~ by David Macaulay, 2003, children's

This book reveals the methods and materials used to design and construct a mosque in late-sixteenth- century Turkey.  Through the fictional story and Macaulay's distinctive full-color illustrations, readers will learn not only how such monumental structures were built but also how they functioned in relation to the society they served.

Castle: How It Works ~ by David Macaulay, 2012, children's

The word itself conjures up mystery, romance, intrigue, and grandeur.  What could be more perfect for an author/illustrator who has continually stripped away the mystique of architectural structures that have long fascinated modern man?  With typical zest and wry sense of humor punctuating his drawings, David Macaulay traces the step-by-step planning and construction of both castle and town.