Skyscrapers are awesome, and this book explores an amazing array of them in vivid colour. From a skyscraper draped in nine different sky gardens, to a unique elephant-shaped skyscraper, this book gifts young readers an up-close look at the design, engineering and artistry found in these huge structures. Illustrator Sue Downing brings to life skyscrapers found in the UK, China, Germany, Spain, the USA, Singapore, France, Dubai and more, and the book finishes with a guided activity and a quiz to test readers’ skyscraper skills!

The My Awesome Book of series, published in partnership with RIBA and written by their Learning Manager, Sophie Draper, is designed to inspire and impress young readers with the astonishing architectural achievements all around us. Curated with expertise, care and style, the series is perfect for young readers aged 5+.

Sample contents from My Awesome Books of Bridges: What is a skyscraper? / Skyscraper types / The Home Insurance Building and the Empire State Building (Chicago and New York, USA) / The Iconic Tower (NAC, Egypt) / Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) / The Shard (London, UK) / Commerzbank Tower (Frankfurt, Germany) / Bosco Verticale (Milan, Italy) / The Turning Torso (Malmö, Sweden) / Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China) / Torre Glories (Barcelona, Spain) / Marina Bay Sands (Singapore)

Sophie Draper

Sophie lives in east London with her husband and two young daughters. She has worked in cultural education for 18 years and has delivered learning programmes for families, schools and early years at the Wallace collection, the Museum of London and the National Gallery. In 2021 Sophie Joined RIBA to work with architects in teaching children and young people about the spaces where they live, learn, work and play.

Sue Downing

Sue lives and works in a little eco house in Newcastle upon Tyne with her husband and two children. She loves to draw, design and make things. Since leaving Edinburgh College of art in the late 1990s, she’s worked in-house, on a freelance basis, as an illustrator, product/licensed character developer, a designer/maker of jewellery, greetings cards and wrapping paper – never a dull moment! Sue’s inspirations are many – from knitted toys, Japanese design, and Scandinavian Chic to Modernism, Dick Bruna and Info-graphics. She’s drawn to anything that is quirky, humorous and minimal in design, and hopes that this is reflected in her illustration.