“The Gothic cathedral is one of man’s most magnificent expressions as well as one of his grandest architectural achievements. Built to the glory of God, each cathedral was created by the ingenuity, skill, and hard work of generations of dedicated people.” – taken from the dust jacket of Cathedral

Truly, the construction of a cathedral is a wonder. I have personally been in many of them (both here in the United States and when I lived in Europe) and each is as different and magnificent as the community that built it. These mountains of carved stone, metal, and wood demand the labor, wealth, and craftsmanship of hundreds of people over generations. A book that invites us to consider that is a gift. A book that invites children to contemplate that and consider not only the how but the why of such an undertaking has the power to open not just minds but hearts. Cathedral by David Macaulay is just such a book.

Part historical account, part engineering explanation, and part artistic expression, this exceptional book takes the reader on a journey from the foundation to the dedication over decades and in layers.

Written with real language, David Macaulay’s technical writing is not too complex for a child to understand but, rather, is sufficiently intelligent to make them truly wonder at what he is explaining. 

I vividly remember my brother loving David Macaulay’s The Way Things Work when we were growing up in the ‘80s. But, despite this being a 1974 Caldecott honor book, I don’t remember ever knowing about this one until my oldest was a little guy equally enamored of The Way Things Work and The Way We Work.

I love this book and have several copies in my lending library. Boys who are tired of mamas foisting fiction on them usually cautiously consent to letting this one come home with them and then come back begging for more. I recommend all of his books in this style, but this is my favorite.

This book was a 1974 Caldecott Honor book. You can learn more about the Caldecott medals and the winners at Biblioguides.