The Panama Canal, a man-made waterway in Panama, connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the Isthmus of Panama, serving maritime trade. The canal locks at each end actually lift ships up to Gatun Lake, a man-made lake that was created to lessen the excavation work on the canal. Building the Panama Canal was a dangerous endeavor, and seeing the project through to its completion is a tribute to perseverance. France began building the canal in 1881, and the United States took over the project in 1904 and opened the canal on August 15, 1914. There were many perils during the years that transpired, but this book isn't about that! This 'learn to read' book is meant to show the Panama Canal the way a kid would see it, and enjoy it, with its ups and downs! And as a kid travels through the pages of this book, he or she can also practice reading skills through the author's clever use of word recognition and word repetition and rhyme. When a kid is all finished going through the Panama Canal through this book's pages, they can go to the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel and watch the free music video that goes along with this book; and they can see even more of the Panama Canal!