Assisted by detailed watercolor illustrations, the text traces the relationship between architecture and changes in North American history and culture over a four-hundred-year period. Structures range from the familiar to the lesser known. Despite its too-small type, this slim volume delivers a solid introduction to the diversity of American architecture. Glos., ind.

Gr 5-8-This slender book with great visual appeal offers a tantalizing survey of 400 years of architecture, from the structures of 17th-century settlers to current trends in postmodernism. In roughly chronological order, the 22 two-page chapters each consist of a brief introductory narrative supported by numerous fully captioned illustrations. An eclectic assortment of topics is presented, including periods ("The Jazz Age"), places ("The White City"), styles ("The International Style"), and building types ("Houses of Worship"). Meticulous, finely detailed renderings in subdued colors illuminate the buildings, which are seen from different perspectives. An illustrated time line and a glossary with thumbnail line drawings are included. This book can provide only a taste of the richness of our architectural heritage, but students may be inspired to consult weightier references for more in-depth coverage, e.g., Leland M. Roth's American Architecture: A History (Westview, 2000) or Cyril M. Harris's American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Norton, 1998).-Mary Ann Carcich, Mattituck-Laurel Public Library, Mattituck, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.