The Man Who Made Parks: The Story of Parkbuilder Frederick Law Olmsted
Grade 2-4-Olmsted is not a name most children will recognize, but they will know his work-beautiful open areas such as New York City's Central Park; the grounds surrounding the United States Capital; and other outdoor spaces in Boston, Niagara Falls, and Montreal. In picture-book format, Wishinsky tells the story of a man who drifted through several careers before finding his calling as a landscape architect. The text brings Olmsted to life through accounts of his childhood love of the outdoors, a fondly remembered walking tour of England, and his first day on the job as Central Park superintendent when his boss tried to make a fool of him. Full-page, realistically detailed pastel drawings illustrate the book. No bibliography or list of sources is included. This is a book that may need some introduction but it does have its uses.Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VACopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.