The Panama Canal: The Story of how a jungle was conquered and the world made smaller (Wonders of the World Book)
Grade 3-6-A solid, approachable introduction to the often amazing story of the Panama Canal, complete with full-color illustrations and historical photos. Mann traces the starts and stops of the undertaking from its French origins to its completion by the Americans, fueled throughout by the labor of workers from all over the world. The construction of the canal, with its locks and dams, is not an easy subject to relate. However, the author manages to render the technical language in the simplest of terms. She also addresses the unfair working and living conditions of the many laborers from the Caribbean. A pull-out illustration of how the canal works is included. Tim McNeese's The Panama Canal (Lucent, 1997) is more thorough, but for younger readers, Mann's book more than suffices.Carol Fazioli, The Brearley School, New York City, NYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.