The book was photographed collectively by six noted photographers and written by McDonnell to give voice to grain elevators and how they operated historically to create the story they tell us today. With all of today's technology and "do-things-faster" attitude, it's comforting to know that the old ways of doing things are, in some cases, just fine the way they are. You not only see building structures of various grain elevators, you see agents measuring out a boxcar-load of wheat at Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, old trains traveling through the bare prairie landscape, the "death" of an old grain elevator in Lwevan, SK, and elevator engine parts. The photographs, which sometimes encompass the whole page and sometimes are set amidst commentary, are always dramatic and telling.

      Though the pictures can easily be read by elementary students, the essays are better understood by junior and senior high school students. Specific information is given on how the grain elevators were built, operated, and how close they are to being lost. "As each one falls, the prairie becomes a lonelier place." Inglis, Manitoba, is featured as Canada's last row of grain elevators, again proving their strength and viability through history.

Highly Recommended.