A nostalgic, detailed celebration of the building and daily life of the Erie Canal. Peter Spier, Reissued - Redeemed Reader
: Spier captures the energy and "realistic murk" of the canal era. His vision is described as optimistic and cheerful, often featuring subtle humor—such as passengers ducking under low bridges—to communicate history through action rather than dry text. Peter spier - poem- wide and long deep and strong
: The book includes a historical appendix that explains how the canal was built using "American know-how" rather than trained engineers. This makes it an essential resource for students studying ancient history or early American infrastructure. A nostalgic, detailed celebration of the building and
The description "" refers to the classic American folk song and poem "The Erie Canal," which was famously illustrated by Peter Spier in 1970 . The phrase appears in the lyrics: "A mile and a half on the Erie Canal... It's wide and it's long, and it's deep and it's strong." Review of Peter Spier’s The Erie Canal : The book includes a historical appendix that
: While the book functions as a picture book for younger children, its "slightly sophisticated" level of detail and historical context makes it suitable for elementary-aged children as well. Fast Facts Published: 1970 Awards: Christopher Award winner