Drawings by Roxie Munro Architects make zigzags--and they also design brackets, columns, dormers, eaves, facades, gables, houses, ironwork, and all the other architectural delights to be found inside this book. Artist Roxie Munro has created a wonderful, whimsical tour through the architectural alphabet. Her drawings show 26 of the most common features of buildings and neighborhoods and give a tantalizing glimpse into 300 years of American architecture from coast to coast. Follow her eye up to locate unusual curlicues on a seaside balcony and gaze down to see the intricate plantings that welcomed George Washington to Mount Vernon. This look at architecture from A to Z explains some everyday terms and introduces some less familiar words--do you know what jigsaw work, newel posts, and quoins are? Munro makes architecture fun for building lovers of all ages and provides a starting point for endless architectural explorations close to home. "Munro's line drawings . are full of detail without being cluttered; they capture the activity of these places, and yet they remain serene." --Washington Post "Munro clearly is [able] to breathe life into the inanimate." --New York Times "Munro deserves thanks for this treasure that her fans will hope is the first of many singular achievements." --Publishers Weekly