Brooklyn Bridge

by Lynn Curlee

"It so happens that the work which is likely to be our most durable monument, and to convey some knowledge of us to the most remote posterity, is a work of bare utility; not a shrine, not a fortress, but a bridge."
So wrote one architectural critic of the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the grandest and most eloquent monuments to the American spirit that our country has produced. Its magnificent site, breathtaking span, cutting-edge technology, and sheer beauty have made it the subject of poems, paintings, photographs, novels, plays, and movies.
Beneath the Brooklyn Bridge's triumphant arches lie astonishing tales of death, deception, genius, and daring. Over the fourteen-year course of its construction, there were many deaths, including that of John A. Roebling, designer and chief engineer; an underwater fire; and even fraud.
Finally, though, the bridge was finished, and as part of the opening day festivities, the president, and two mayors crossed it.
In this stunning visual history, Lynn Curlee tells the fascinating story of the history and construction of the "Eighth Wonder of the World."

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Science, History, School, Childrens, American History

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my read of Sibert award winners and honors. Another book on the Brooklyn Bridge. This one is a children's picture book. It has a good balance of words and pictures. I've read more detailed books on the subject and this one captures the important pieces of those details without getting lost in them. I never appreciated the Brooklyn Bridge when I lived in NJ and went over it every so often. But some subjects are worth returning to over and over. And the Brooklyn Bridge is one of them.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for my 365 Kids Book challenge. You can see all the books on their own shelf.

I love a great non-fiction picture book, chock full of factoids, and big pictures, and scale, and real people, etc. This isn't the only book I've read about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, because I'm that kind of nerd. And this one is great. Lots of detail about how the bridge is made, amazing stuff about the steel cables and the bends and so on. Great stuff.

John Roebling invents the steel cables and designs the bridge then dies in 1869 after an accident, just as construction is beginning. His son, Washington, takes over as Chief Engineer. Then in 1872 Washington is debilitated by repeated attacks of the bends that leave him “an invalid, confined to his room and unable to endure the company of anyone except his wife. Although he gradually was able to work as effectively as before, during the eleven years remaining for its construction, Washington Roebling never once returned to the bridge site.” The stonework is finally completed in July 1876. Washington and his wife Emily return from New Jersey where he has been recuperating. “Already his best friend, nurse, and confidante, Emily Roebling had now become her husband’s secretary and personal assistant. She wrote his letters, helped with working drawings, and served as his eyes and ears, conveying his instructions to the assistant engineers and dealing personally with the trustees and contractors at the building site.”

Then a little farther down

Eventually she knew as much as anyone about the techniques of bridge building, and later it was even rumored that she took over as Chief Engineer. While this was untrue..."

I don’t know what we could consider objective truth when talking about partners and shared tasks, it tends to be grey and muddy. But Emily wrote the letters and made working drawings and nursed her husband for four years. Then she spent seven years on site in Brooklyn dealing with contractors, trustees, assistant engineers, problems and questions while still caring for her husband who was still debilitated and reclusive. So if instead of Washington’s wife it was his assistant that had stepped up, just as John’s assistant, Washington, had actually once done, no one would have ever questioned who was the Chief Engineer.

See it’s a great book: it even shows how women are routinely belittled and dismissed in STEM fields.

Library copy

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Compared to other books I've read about the Brooklyn Bridge, this book downplays the contributions of Emily Roebling, which I didn't like. The illustrations are stunning.

[Laura Brower · Rating 5 out of 5]

This informational book embarks upon the jaw-dropping tale of the construction and completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. Lynn Curlee highlights the remarkable engineering and craftsmanship that the builders executed in order to make the bridge a reality. Students will learn about different aspects such as the deaths and injuries many builders faced throughout the process. For instance, Curlee writes about the chief engineer, John Roebling, who died while working on the bridge because of an accident. The author also mentions how Roebling's son then finished his father's work despite his physical illness.

All in all, I strongly recommend this book to young readers. Curlee creates an exciting learning experience with the book's diagrams, maps and paintings. In additions, readers who find interest in architecture and learning about how things work will highly enjoy this read.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my 11 year old for homeschool. I was expecting a short picture book story, but it was a very detailed and longer book than expected. The author told the history and story of the Brooklyn bridge in a very clear and engaging manner that helped us better understand the significance of such an engineering feat.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative book about the history of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge - quite a marvel of engineering in its day! I learned a lot! The illustrations and diagrams were very helpful to, in understanding just what was going on and how the building of the bridge was accomplished. Without them, even as an adult reader, I might have been a bit lost.

[Colleen McCormack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different way to see how the Brooklyn bridge was built and the new technology used to create this iconic bridge. The book went into just enough depth about the journey of the bridge, the people involved making it, and what it means to some people today.

[Christopher Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-Fiction
Middle Grades (4-6)
This was a great non-fiction book but it's also a slug to read through. I wouldn't read it in my class but I would have it available for students to read as part of a bridge unit.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this book. I knew virtually none of the details about how the Brooklyn Bridge was built. Fascinating. Bridge building is very high stakes work. I'm also very interested to learn more about Emily Roebling.

[Teri · Rating 2 out of 5]

so long!!! watch the PBS special on the Brooklyn Bridge instead!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting account of the Brooklyn Bridge, its creation and construction.

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regional read aloud uos, historical fiction

[Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave read this to Calvin over the course of 3 nights (2018). He loved it, and loved telling me all about it. I would consider this a living book!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, my students will learn what hardships the workers had to face and hopefully will find interest in architecture from all the visuals within this book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an engineering feat! I had no idea! This is a fascinating book about how the Brooklyn Bridge was constructed, a true marvel in the 1870s.

[Maxine D'India Aeschleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat book about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

[Emily Egbers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book analyzes the making of the Brooklyn Bridge, including all o the struggles and successes that occurred while creating this historical monument. John Roebling began designing the bridge in 1867. However, he passed away and his son took over the project as Chief Engineer. A fire was started in 1870 in the caisson of the bridge after someone left a lamp on. This required the caisson to be flooded, setting back construction for several months. As workers began digging for the second foundation, many of them died from a condition known as the bends. This is caused by the formation of bubbles of gas that occur with changes in pressure rapidly inside the body. Roebling decided to put the construction to a stop because of the large amounts of deaths. This is believed to have caused him a nervous breakdown and made him not return to the bridge site. His wife became his personal assistant. She played an influential part in the bridge's building.
I would recommend this book for 4th-5th graders who enjoy history. In a classroom, students could make a timeline with the dates mentioned throughout the book. The illustrations are beautiful and very detailed. The layout in the book is text on the left side and the illustration are on the right side. However, on one page there is text on both sides of the panel. At the end of the book, there is a diagram of the bridge, specifications and a timeline of the construction. Overall, this was a good historical informational book on the design and building of the Brooklyn Bridge, but the author did a poor job of pulling me into the book and making me interested. This book was actually quite boring when it was listing the technical details.

[RachelWilliams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooklyn Bridge would be a great way to start a history lesson with students making timelines with the book. The book could also be an excellent way to get children excited about science and engineering. I believe that it is best suited for fourth and fifth grade.

Brooklyn Bridge chronicles the making of the Brooklyn Bridge, including all the struggles and successes of creating this historic monument. In 1867 John Roebling begins designing the bridge; however he dies and his son takes over as Chief Engineer at age 32. In 1870 a fire was started in the caisson of the bridge after someone left a lamp on. Due to the fire the caisson had to be flooded which set progress back several months. Digging for the second foundation proved difficult as well, workers started dying from the bends. The bends is caused by breathing in compressed air that internal returns to normal pressure too quickly within the body. Due to the high fatality rate, Washington Roebling halted the digging for the second foundation. The halting of the digging resulting is believed to have caused him a nervous breakdown. Washington Roebling never returned to the bridge site. His wife became his personal assistant and played a significant role in the building of the bridge. This book does an excellent job at showing the sacrifices that went into the making of the Brooklyn Bridge.

[Jameisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever read a picture book like this. I really liked it. I didn’t know much about the Brooklyn bridge except that it’s in New York, but after reading this I learned a lot about the bridge, it’s inventors, and the process of constructing it. Sometimes I think we don’t recognize how neat and exciting history can be, and this book showed me that. Everybody has heard of the Brooklyn Bridge, but they probably don’t think about how something so complex was created during a time when people were getting around in carriages. I just think this would be a great book for kids to learn about something well known, but learning more than the Brooklyn Bridge is an admired landmark. It’s well written, and gives detailed explanations with pictures for a visual description. The text isn’t confusing and although the book is providing various facts and information about the Brooklyn Bridge, it’s also telling an interesting story about an intelligent individual and his son.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story of the time and physical effort to build the Brooklyn Bridge, the world's first steel suspension bridge, the "8th wonder of the world." I had no idea the foundations were dug by hand; Curlee's clean diagrams helped me to envison how this back-breaking work was done, and the text enlightened me as to what miserable conditions the men worked in, and who the men who dug the foundations were. I also didn't know that so many people got "the bends" as the foundation for one of the two towers was much deeper (trying to hit bedrock.) Curlee's trademark monumental style illustrations are a good match for this dramatic story.

Good for ages 7/8 and up.

Used in STEM Storytime (not whole thing as they are preschoolers, just some pictures & facts and the diagram at end) with Phil Bildner's 21 Elephants.

[Amie Sergio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations and access features. Contains several diagrams and maps of Brooklyn bridge. Also provides the specifications of the Brooklyn Bridge such as its total weight, total length, number of cables, and so forth. A book that can be greatly appreciated by those who live in New York and who are interested in architecture. Shares the purpose of why the bridge was built, who helped in creating the bridge, what happend during its creation, and how it was the subject of many movies, novels, photographs,and paintings.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

2002 Sibert Honor

Such an interesting subject...how Brooklyn Bridge was built.

and the ending made me tear up because it mentioned the Twin Towers, and by mention I mean they were still there at the time, which means this book was probably published in early 2001. Therefore, my co-worker and I wonder if it's one of the reasons it won the honor...

[Janet Squires]

The Brooklyn Bridge, a Robert F. Sibert honor book written and illustrated by Lynn Curlee, is a beautifully illustrated book that details the construction of what was once the tallest structure in North America. The text weaves together the engineering feat with the lives of John, Washington and Emily Roebling who brought this historic project to completion.

[Lisa Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had great facts and pictures about how the bridge was built and how the engineer who designed it was really ahead of his time. It was interesting for even me who is not very into engineering and bridge building. It is also on the Sibert, Orbis, and Notable list.

[Anndee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kid's book. I picked this one up on a whim since I've always been interested in how this bridge was built. I even caught my son reading it this morning during breakfast. Good diagrams help to explain the bridge.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather meaty book for kids (I was surprised at the level of detail) explaining how the Brooklyn Bridge was built. I am amazed on reading this, and learned quite a bit that I never knew. These builders were absolutely genius to figure it out like this.

Great book!

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very impressed with this book. Although written for upper elementary or middle schoolers, it answered a lot of questions that I had about how the bridge was built. It was simple but thorough. Definitely recommend for anyone from NYC or interested in engineering, whether young or old.

[Chelsey]

Informational

[Vicki Hinesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent detail

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little over BrookPie's head, but because of the title she likes to hear from it. It is great information packed into a children's book ...